< p>NORWICH, Conn. (AP) — Norwich is offering to handle sewage outflow for five other towns in an attempt to help pay for its $96 million treatment plant upgrade.

A utility spokesman tells the Bulletin (http://bit.ly/VD9ouh ) that officials from Bozrah, Franklin and Sprague will tour the plant Monday and begin talks. Norwich hopes to have agreements in place within a year with those towns as well as Lisbon and Preston.

Norwich will pay for $24 million of the upgrade. State grants and an increase in sewer rates will cover some of the rest.

Utility spokesman Mike Hughes says that sharing services can save the other towns money and spur economic development.

Sprague First Selectman Cathy Osten says Norwich's plan is one of several options her town is looking at to improve its own plant.

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Information from: Norwich Bulletin, http://www.norwichbulletin.com