New Ringgold Borough received no bids last Monday for its borough dam and might increase sewer rates as a result.

The borough was considering selling the dam in East Brunswick to “save our sewage treatment plant,” Council President Larry Padora said.

A minimum bid of $200,000 was required. The fire company uses the dam for its dry hydrant. Fire officials were not against the sale if they could use the hydrant.

He said rebidding the dam is possible but would not provide a time frame.

“Everything that is happening to New Ringgold is out of our control,” he said, referencing increasing costs for mandated testing by the State Department of Environmental Protection and higher chemical costs and other incidental expenses. The borough will be forced to pay more in about two years for the daily testing. Right now, the borough tests every other day.

The borough is having a meeting 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Sewage Treatment Plant to adopt the final 2022 budget. During that time, council could vote to increase the sewer rate, which is currently $65 a month per dwelling unit. It will go up $10 per EDU if it goes up at all, he said. This will be only the second time in 15 years for a hike, Padora said. There are 127 EDUs hooked up to the sewer plant, but some customers have more than one.