West Penn Township officials have offered neighboring property owners who live near a malfunctioning sewer system in the Andreas area some simple advice.

They should agree to work together, as discussed at a special board of supervisors meeting Friday afternoon that was attended by several neighboring property owners.

Board Chairman Tony Prudenti said the meeting was held because the board was looking for some ideas from them to help cut down on the cost to correct the issue.

“We’re looking to you guys for guidance that should be done,” Prudenti said. “We’re in a little bit of a quandary here, and I’m not sure what to do.”

Supervisor Tim Houser concurred, adding, “We’re kind of in a Catch-22 situation.”

“The biggest problem of all is this is something we inherited from 50 years ago,” Houser said. “We are dumbfounded on what we can do to make it affordable for the people.”

Supervisor Ted Bogosh said the least expensive means to lower the cost is “a lot of cooperation between neighbors” and their sharing septic systems and wellheads.

Otherwise, Bogosh said the township will be forced to come up with some sort of community system that they would have to hook up to and adhere to by the state Department of Environmental Protection agency.

“Right now, the best thing is for neighbors to help neighbors,” Bogosh said. “If the problem doesn’t go away, DEP will make us fix it.”

That, Bogosh said, “would cost the township a small fortune.”

“It would cut into our budget immensely, and it will eat into your budget,” he said. “We don’t want to see that happen.”

Bogosh said neighbors working together is the best solution all the way around.

“A little community cooperation could go a long way,” he said. “We have to fix this thing.”

Prudenti said there are three alternatives under the Act 537 plan for the Andreas area: An on-lot sewage management program ($67,600); a packaged wastewater treatment facility ($1.4 million); and a community on-lot disposal system ($1.1 million).

“We’re at our wits’ end here,” he said. “It’s not good.”

Houser echoed Prudenti’s thoughts.

“We’re walking on thin ice,” he said. “We’ve been moving forward with this plan, and that’s the only reason why DEP hasn’t come in and fined us again.”

Bogosh said the situation needs to be rectified.

“We have a problem, we have to fix that problem,” he said. “If not, the government’s going to step in, and I don’t want to see that happen.”

Houser agreed with Bogosh.

“We’re all in this together,” he said. “So, the more cooperation we get from everyone, the better off (everyone) will be.”

Prudenti noted that the township has received a lot of cooperation from a lot of different people over the years.

“As far as I’m concerned, nothing is off the table,” he said. “We really are asking for your help.”

In the meantime, a holding tank has been put in as a temporary solution, supervisors said.

Supervisors agreed the next meeting to discuss the issue will be held at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5 before the township’s regular meeting at 7 p.m.