The city of Auburn will receive initial cooperation from surrounding municipalities as it looks into consolidating water and sewer services.

The towns of Fleming, Sennett, Aurelius, Owasco and Throop, and the Cayuga County Water and Sewer Authority, have all agreed to support at least the initial steps toward forming a single, shared system.

The municipalities plan to apply together for some grants that could pay for a study on whether or not it is feasible to make such changes to the current system, Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh said this week. The Auburn City Council passed a resolution in September supporting participation in a study, and all the other entities have since passed similar resolutions.

“It is a lengthy process, but it will take some stamina on everyone's part to get through it,” Palesh said.

Auburn currently supplies water and sewer services to each party.

The city hired a consultant this summer to examine where it needs to invest in the system, how it charges its customers and surrounding communities for services, and the costs it incurs due to the current system.

Palesh and city officials have expressed interest in a water and sewer authority of which Auburn and surrounding towns would all be part owners. An authority would make the systems more efficient and ensure equitable rates among its customers, Palesh said.

“I think the idea is sound, and I think the city is committed to moving it forward until we have had a go or no-go moment,” Palesh said.

The Owasco Town Board passed the resolution in October supporting the study, but not before making a few small changes, Supervisor John Klink said. The changes were just to make sure the board would have to give approval before the town extends any funds, Klink said.

“You always have to be open to proposals and ideas in terms of anything that is brought to the table if you think it is going to benefit the town,” said Klink, who noted that Owasco uses Auburn's sewer services but not its water services.

But the devil, Klink continued, is in the details. An authority would have to provide the same or better services for the same amount of money if Owasco is to agree to join it, he said.

“It would have to be something that is in the best interest of the taxpayers,” Klink said.

But that decision is not on the table yet. Palesh said there are two possible state grants totaling more than $1 million that would fund a feasibility study.

If every player involved agrees to move forward at each step, that study could take 18 months to two years to complete.

So far, each town has shown a willingness to cooperate, he said.

“There is great leadership out there in the towns and in the county,” Palesh said. “If this is ever going to see the light of day, it will be under their watch.”