The public is invited to witness the dedication ceremony of Walnutport's brand-new water filtration system at 11 a.m. Thursday, said Walnutport Authority Chairman Ron Kuntz at the authority's meeting Tuesday.

After 10 years in the planning and development stages, the Heimbach Filtration Plant on Alder Drive, just north of Kmart, is finally ready to begin operations after having received Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection approval.Even though it is the first new water filtration system within the borough since 1999, Borough Engineer Jason Newhard clarified it is actually "old tech," yet built so it works exactly to "fit your needs, it's so specific." He said it is one of only four such "customized" filtration systems in the entire northeast region of the DEP."Since last month, we had our inspection at the Heimbach Plant, and you were issued the operations permit," Newhard said. He added that earlier in the day, and on Wednesday, Kershner Environmental Technologies filter representative Charlie Singer "is there to tweak a few things.""Then it's ready to go," Newhard said. "You can actually put water in the system."Kuntz said the dedication will include a welcome, an introduction of those involved in the project, a brief history of the plant, and a presentation about plant operations and how it runs.He said, "I'm going to say that … compared to other authorities in other places that are basically advisory boards to the council or supervisors … we are a working authority, we operate on our own, do our own repairs, do our own collections in the service area we have … (so) I think this board deserves the credit for what's going on."Also during the meeting, Kuntz asked Newhard to discuss the Oak Street water main replacement project.Newhard said work had begun earlier that day, with the installation of a valve at the Lincoln Manor Apartments, and that on Wednesday, they would tie in that link.Kuntz asked members to consider contributing half the cost toward the newest backhoe the borough council purchased for $8,000."Normally, we'd pay half of it," he said, noting that the borough and the authority usually share equipment.Members agreed to wait until after the filtration plant is up and running for a while to assure all bills are covered before possibly making such an offer.Kuntz also discussed the possibility of providing council an annual report and said there will be no authority meeting in July.