Governor Wolf Announces $23.4 Million Investment in Water Infrastructure Projects in 6 Counties
Harrisburg, PA – (RealEstateRama) — Governor Tom Wolf today announced the investment of $23.4 million for seven drinking water, wastewater and non-point source projects across six counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST).
“The low-interest loans and grants awarded by the PENNVEST Board of Directors at today’s meeting will help both large and small communities across the Commonwealth improve their drinking water and eliminate the contamination of their nearby streams and rivers”, said Governor Wolf. ”This much-needed assistance will make these efforts affordable for the thousands of people affected by these projects and will have a lasting effect on improving Pennsylvania’s public health and water quality.”
Of the $23.4 million, $17.7 million is allocated for low-interest loans and $5.7 million is awarded through grants.
The funding comes from a combination of state funds approved by voters, federal grants to PENNVEST from the Environmental Protection Agency and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards. Funds for the projects are disbursed after bills for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PENNVEST.
For more information, visit www.pennvest.state.pa.us or call 717-783-6798.
A list of project summaries follows.
PENNVEST Drinking Water Projects
Cambria County
Nanty Glo Water Authority received a $3.5 million loan to make a variety of improvements to its drinking water treatment plant, which is at the end of its useful life and consequently experiencing increasing operational costs and poorer water quality. These improvements will bring the plant into compliance with safe drinking water regulations.
Somerset County
Somerset Borough Municipal Authority received a $1,806,000 loan to replace its old and leaking drinking water storage tank with a new tank. This will eliminate the water losses that the system is now experiencing due to the leaks from the old tank.
PENNVEST Wastewater Projects
Cambria County
Johnstown City received a $3,026,925 grant to rehabilitate or, when sliplining is not possible, replace more than two miles of clay pipe in the in the Hornerstown and Industrial Park area of the City. This is part of a multi-phase effort that the City is undertaking to reduce infiltration and inflow into its sewage collection system that currently causes overflows of sewage during wet weather.
Washington County
Independence-Cross Creek Joint Sewer Authority received a $5,598,640 loan to construct more than seven miles of sewage collection lines in order to provide service to areas of Cross Creek and Independence Townships where almost fifty percent of the household on-lot septic systems are malfunctioning and where there are also some wildcat sewers discharging untreated sewage directly into nearby streams.
Non-point Source Water Quality Improvement Projects
Bedford County
Everett Borough received a $920,395 grant to make improvements to two stormwater retention ponds and replace an existing inadequate culvert in order to eliminate erosion and sediment contamination of the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River that occurs during wet weather.
Luzerne County
Courtdale Borough received a $1,785,000 grant to install almost four miles of grassed swales, 2,500 feet of storm sewer pipe and make other improvements in order to eliminate major flooding and road washouts that occur during heavy rains.
Philadelphia County
Temple University received a $6,747,933 loan to install green roofs, porous paving, rainwater harvesting cisterns, stormwater piping and make other improvements that will eliminate erosion and sediment runoff into the existing combined sewer and stormwater systems that serve the University and surrounding residences in northcentral Philadelphia.
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