The Gardiner Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) is nearing capacity, according to a letter from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

The letter stated the plant’s annual average flow exceeded 95 percent of the design flow. Now, the town must prepare and submit a flow management plan no later than August 1.

The WWTP has been a concern for many years, Town Supervisor Marybeth Majestic said. The town commissioned Pitingaro and Doetsch recently to study the WWTP’s flow.

“This has been on the radar for the town for many, many years, but we do have data that was not available to us before,” Majestic said.

Town Supervisor Marybeth Majestic said the town would commission Pitingaro and Doetsch to create a flow management plan for $3,500.