Governor Corbett Announces $115 Million Investment in Water Infrastructure Projects in 17 Counties

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced the investment of $115 million in 28 non-point source, drinking water, and wastewater projects in 17 counties. 

"These projects will significantly contribute to improved waterways, including the Chesapeake Bay, and will also create hundreds of new jobs that are so vital to our local communities," Governor Corbett said. "These projects serve the dual purposes of responsible environmental stewardship and steadfast economic recovery, both of which are critical to the future of Pennsylvania."

Of the $115 million total, $82 million is for low-interest loans and $33 million is offered as grants.

The awards range from a $19 million loan/grant combination to upgrade a wastewater treatment system in McKean County, allowing for business expansion and the creation of 60 new local jobs, to a $266,000 grant that will construct nutrient-management facilities on a farm in Lancaster County, contributing to the improvement in the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay.

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.

Editor's Note: A list of project summaries follows:

PENNVEST Non-Point Source Projects:

Allegheny County
Springdale Borough received a $745,305 loan to construct new storm sewers to eliminate deteriorated storm water pipes that are allowing contaminating runoff into Riddle Run.

Berks County
Berks County Conservation District received a $1,985,032 grant to install manure management and related facilities to reduce nutrient run-off into local streams from four dairy farms, two of which are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Centre County
Centre County Conservation District: received four funding awards for projects in different areas of the county:

• A $431,465 grant to construct manure-handling facilities on the Steve Foster Farm, a beef cow operation that annually discharges more than 5,000 pounds of nitrogen and 3,000 pounds of phosphorous into Halfmoon Creek, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.
• A $636,842 grant to construct manure-handling facilities on the Tri-Glo Farm, a dairy cow operation that annually discharges more than 7,000 pounds of nitrogen and 2,000 pounds of phosphorous into Fishing Creek, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.
• A $486,577 grant to construct manure-handling facilities on the Dan Ulmer Farm, a family-operated dairy that annually discharges more than 2,000 pounds of nitrogen and 700 pounds of phosphorous into Spring Creek, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.
• A $638,697 grant to construct manure-handling facilities on the David Weaver Farm, a family-operated dairy that annually discharges more than 5,000 pounds of nitrogen and 2,000 pounds of phosphorous into Romola Branch and Marsh Creek, tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.

Clarion County
Armstrong County Conservation District received a $1,870,671 grant to construct a passive treatment system, four constructed wetlands and other facilities that will eliminate discharges of highly acid water from an abandoned mine site into the Allegheny River.

Lancaster County
Lancaster County Conservation District received four funding awards for projects in different areas of the county:

• A $353,820 grant to construct manure-handling facilities on the Hess dairy farm to eliminate nutrient discharges into Donegal Creek, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.
• A $265,580 grant to construct manure-handling facilities on the Sensing farm to eliminate nutrient discharges into Octoraro Creek, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.
• A $296,360 grant to construct manure-handling facilities on the Aaron Zeist farm to eliminate nutrient discharges into the Conestoga River, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.
• A $1,002,715 grant to construct manure-handling facilities on six separate farms in the county to eliminate nutrient discharges into various tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay.

Lebanon County
Lebanon City received a $576,450 grant to construct a water pervious parking lot and walkways, infiltration basins and swales as well as plant trees and make other improvements that will reduce storm water runoff into Brandywine Creek, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.

York County
York County Rail Trail Authority received a $921,656 grant to construct a 2.5 mile water infiltration system along Codorus Creek and also install an infiltration system in a local parking lot, all of which will eliminate urban storm water runoff into this impaired waterway.

PENNVEST Drinking Water Projects:

Armstrong County
Kittanning Suburban Joint Water Authority received a $3,211,117 loan to construct almost eight miles of drinking water distribution lines to provide service to 122 homes in East Franklin and North Buffalo townships whose drinking water wells have poor quantity and quality, some due to past mining activities.

Cambria County

• Ebensburg Borough Municipal Authority received a $5,050,000 loan to replace and upgrade the authority's drinking water treatment plant and install more than a mile of new distribution lines, all of which will eliminate water quality problems and significant water losses.
• Glendale Valley Municipal Authority received an $850,000 loan to construct a more than a mile-long new water main and a booster pump station to connect portions of the authority's system that are receiving poor quality water from another sources.

Indiana County
Green Township Municipal Authority received a $1,912,391 loan and a $2,170,609 grant to construct two new wells, a storage tank and almost seven miles of distribution lines to provide service to homes whose drinking water wells are contaminated by surface waters and mine drainage.

York County
Red Lion Municipal Authority received a $15,606,350 loan to construct a new drinking water treatment system that will not only improve public health by eliminating waterborne pathogens but will also contribute to local economic development by allowing businesses to expand and create more than 140 new jobs.

PENNVEST Wastewater Projects:

Berks County
Reading City received a $10,013,950 loan to construct a new force main and make other improvements to the city's collection system that will eliminate raw sewage discharges into the Schuylkill River.

Butler County
Prospect Borough received a $1 million loan to upgrade its sewage collection system to eliminate wet weather overloads of the Moraine State Park treatment plant. The project will also allow the expansion of local businesses that will be creating 58 new jobs in the area.

Clearfield County
Woodward Township Sewer and Water Authority received a $4,165,635 loan and a $3,984,365 grant to construct more than eight miles of sewage collection lines to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that are discharging inadequately treated sewage into water aquifers and local streams.  The project will also allow businesses to expand and create 100 new jobs in the area.

Fayette County
Ohiopyle Borough received a $1,106,080 grant to install new collection sewers and make other system improvements to eliminate wet weather discharges of untreated sewage into Meadows Run.

Lawrence County
Mahoning Township received a $7,556,690 grant to make improvements to its sewage treatment plant and construct more than seven miles of collection lines to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot systems. The project will also allow local businesses to expand and create 490 new jobs in the area.

Lebanon County
Fredericksburg Sewer and Water Authority received an $11 million loan to construct a new wastewater treatment plant on approximately seven miles of collection lines in order to eliminate the contamination of local drinking water wells and Deep Run waterway. The project will also allow local businesses to expand and create 200 new jobs in the area, with the potential of 400 additional new jobs.

McKean County
Bradford Sanitary Authority received a $15,598,357 loan and a $3,146,643 grant to upgrade and expand its sewage treatment plant in order to eliminate wet weather overloading of the plant and discharges of partially treated sewage into Tunungwant Creek.  The project will also allow local businesses to expand and create more than 60 new jobs in the area.

Schuylkill County
Porter-Tower Joint Municipal Authority received a $6,855,220 loan and a $4,698,780 grant to construct a new wastewater treatment facility and modify existing facilities to eliminate discharges of inadequately treated sewage during wet weather. In addition, the project will allow a local health care business to expand and create 24 new jobs.

Washington County

• Chartiers Township received a $2 million loan to install nine miles of sewage collection and conveyance lines to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that are discharging raw sewage into Plum Run.
• McDonald Sewer Authority received a $4,221,746 loan and a $958,254 grant loan to install more than five miles of sewage collection throughout McDonald Borough to eliminate wet weather discharges of raw sewage Rob Run and Robinson Run.

SOURCE PENNVEST