About Us

The Lackawanna River Basin Sewer Authority (LRBSA) is a political corporate body established in July 1966 by the Lackawanna County Commissioners, in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipal Authorities Act of 1945 (the “Act”), as amended. The Authority’s current term, as outlined in its amended Articles of Incorporation, is set to last until May 2059. The Board of Authority consists of nine members, each appointed by the County Commissioners for staggered five-year terms, with one or two members appointed annually. The LRBSA is managed by a full-time staff under the direction of an Executive Director.

Under the provisions of the Act, the LRBSA is authorized to acquire, construct, improve, maintain, operate, and lease sewer systems and treatment facilities within its service area.

The Authority has entered into service agreements with each of the 17 municipalities it serves, outlining its role in providing sewage conveyance and treatment services. The agreements with the original 15 municipalities served since the LRBSA’s inception follow a standardized format. Separate agreements were signed with Jefferson Township in September 2002 and Scott Township in 2004 to provide sewage treatment services, as detailed below.

The Lackawanna River Basin Sewer Authority (LRBSA) serves the following seventeen municipalities:

• • Archbald Borough
  • Blakely Borough
  • Carbondale City
  • Carbondale Township
  • Clinton Township (Browndale)
  • Dickson City Borough
  • Fell Township
  • Forest City Borough
  • Jefferson Township
  • Jermyn Borough
  • Jessup Borough
  • Mayfield Borough
  • Moosic Borough
  • Olyphant Borough
  • Scott Township
  • Throop Borough
  • Vandling Borough

*Forest City Borough is located in Susquehanna County, and Clinton Township is in Wayne County. The remaining 15 municipalities are located in Lackawanna County.

Key Service Agreements

Montage Sewer District (1985): In November 1985, the LRBSA entered into an agreement with the Scranton Sewer Authority and the Lackawanna County Commissioners to provide sewer service to the Montage Sewer District in Moosic Borough. Under the terms of the agreement, the Scranton Sewer Authority was responsible for providing sewage treatment services to customers in the district, while the LRBSA managed and maintained the county-owned sewer collection and conveyance systems. The agreement was updated in July 2003 to include Moosic Borough and the City of Scranton as signatories. This revision expanded the service area and adjusted the billing procedures for customers within the district. In December 2016, Pennsylvania-American Water Company took over the Scranton Sewer Authority’s interest in the agreement following the sale of Scranton Sewer Authority assets. As of December 31, 2020, the agreement served 282 accounts.

Siniawa Agreement (1989): In June 1989, the LRBSA entered into the “Siniawa Agreement” with the Scranton Sewer Authority, Dickson City Borough, and developer Siniawa Enterprises. This agreement provided wastewater treatment services for developments along PA Business Route 6 in Dickson City Borough, stretching from approximately the 1100 block of the Scranton-Carbondale Highway to the boundary with the City of Scranton. In October 2016, Pennsylvania-American Water Company assumed responsibility for the agreement, following the sale of Scranton Sewer Authority’s assets. As of December 31, 2020, the agreement served 58 primarily commercial customers.

Moosic Borough (1999): In October 1999, the LRBSA entered into an agreement with the Lower Lackawanna Valley Sanitary Authority (LLVSA) and Moosic Borough to transfer sewage treatment services for LRBSA customers in Moosic to the LLVSA. This agreement allowed the LRBSA to retire its Moosic wastewater treatment plant. As of December 31, 2020, LLVSA provided service to approximately 2,108 customers in Moosic Borough.

Jefferson Township (2002): In September 2002, the LRBSA entered into a service agreement with Jefferson Township, Lackawanna County, and the Jefferson Township Sewer Authority. The agreement outlined the provision of wastewater treatment services for an initial 897 units in Jefferson Township, with wastewater being conveyed to and treated at the LRBSA’s Throop treatment plant. Connections for these customers were completed by 2005, and as of December 31, 2020, 1,255 units from Jefferson Township were billed for wastewater services by the LRBSA.

Scott Township (2004): In May 2004, the LRBSA entered into an agreement with Scott Township, Lackawanna County, and the Scott Township Sewer and Water Authority to provide wastewater treatment services for 1,350 units in Scott Township upon completion of a new sewer system in 2011. Wastewater from Scott Township is treated at the LRBSA’s Archbald wastewater treatment plant. The connection of users to the system began in late 2011 and continued into 2012, with quarterly billing starting in 2012. As of December 31, 2020, 1,415 units, along with one metered industrial user, were being billed for service.

Corey Street Agreement (2008): In April 2008, the LRBSA entered into a service agreement with the Scranton Sewer Authority, the Lower Lackawanna Valley Sanitary Authority (LLVSA), and Moosic Borough. This agreement addressed wastewater management for customers located near Corey Street in Moosic Borough who were previously connected to the Moosic Borough sewer collection system. Under the agreement, wastewater flow from these customers was diverted to the Scranton Sewer Authority’s collection and treatment systems. This transition primarily impacted customers in the City of Scranton and was successfully completed shortly after the agreement’s implementation. In November 2016, Pennsylvania-American Water Company assumed responsibility for the Corey Street Agreement after acquiring the Scranton Sewer Authority’s assets.

Infrastructure and Operations

The LRBSA operates and maintains a comprehensive wastewater system within its service area, including:

• • Three wastewater treatment plants: Clinton Township, Throop, and Archbald
  • Nine wastewater pumping stations
  • 21 miles of interceptor sewers
  • 50 miles of collector sewers

The LRBSA is financially independent and doesn’t receive financial support from Lackawanna County. It does not have taxing authority, and its operational and debt service costs are covered through sewer use fees and related revenues.