Managing a projected surplus of treated sewage water in the borough was discussed at last night's State College Borough Council meeting.

The distribution of treated sewage water is proving to be a costly project for State College, some officials said last night.

"We've never spent this much on a public works project," said Council Member Jeff Kern, estimating its costs at about $70 million.

Sewage water is treated at the University Area Joint Authority (UAJA), 1576 Spring Valley Road, and then currently flowed into Spring Creek, said State College Public Works Director Mark Whitfield.

A potential problem is arising as the water deposits approach the deposit maximum of six million gallons of water per day.

Currently, around 5.5 million gallons of water are being disposed of into the creek.

Possibilities for using the extra water include marketing it for sale to industries that could use it for concrete mixing, irrigating and heating.

"This will be seen as one of the area's biggest advantages to industries," Council Member Elizabeth Goreham said.

Both the UAJA and the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County (CBICC) are hesitant to take responsibility of this project, Council Member Janet Knauer said.

"We're a little uncomfortable about going out and attracting new businesses because economic development is usually the responsibility of the municipalities," Cory Miller, executive director of UAJA, said before the meeting. The UAJA would not be able to recruit new industries with their current staff, Knauer said, adding that they would be willing to market existing businesses.

Dan Abruzzo, vice president of governmental affairs for CBICC, said before the meeting that utility companies and municipalities should put their heads together.

"We plan to continue making the business community aware but not on full out recruitment," he said.

Borough Council President Tom Daubert said there have been other ideas tossed around by the Center Region Council of Governments about the best route to build a pipeline to carry the treated water to Dale Summit, another possible outlet for the surplus of water.

The pipeline building project would cost an estimated $3.8 million, Kern said.

The council also discussed the implementation of permanent chicanes, which are narrowed sections of roads designed to reduce traffic speed in busy locations, farther east on Beaver Avenue than the current location of the temporary chicanes.

Council Member Cathy Dauler said the current chicanes cause traffic to move at a slower rate.

"It gives the appearance of downtown being more walkable," she said.

The location of the chicanes will be moved farther east because of the construction of the parking garage at the intersection of West Beaver Avenue and Fraser Street.