Governor Rendell Announces $92 Million Investment in Water Infrastructure Projects in 16 Counties

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Mar 23, 2010, 12:34 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., March 23 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the investment of $92 million in 16 drinking water and wastewater projects serving communities in 20 counties.

"The funding awarded today by PENNVEST will provide a cleaner environment, greater economic opportunity and improved infrastructure health," Governor Rendell said. "As our economy continues to recover, it is important that we do everything that we can to maintain our commitment to improving water and wastewater systems that will benefit residents and businesses."

Of the $92 million total, $58 million is for low-interest loans and $34 million is offered as grants.

The awards range from a $975,645 loan to facilitate the transfer of operation of, and improvements to, a nonviable drinking water system in Wyoming County, to a $13.8 million loan to upgrade and expand a wastewater treatment plant in Mercer County that is discharging raw sewage into the Shenango River during wet weather, thus improving water quality and allowing for the expansion of businesses in the area currently under a sewer connection moratorium.

Funds for the projects are disbursed after bills for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PENNVEST. For more information about PENNVEST, visit www.pennvest.state.pa.us.

Media contacts:

Paul Marchetti, PENNVEST; 717-783-4496

Gary Tuma, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

Editor's Note: A list of projects funded by-county follows:

PENNVEST DRINKING WATER PROJECTS:

Cambria County

Nanty Glo Water Authority received a $3.9 million loan to replace more than seven miles of water lines to reduce leaks and waterline breaks that frequently interrupt service to customers. The project will also make improvements to the system's water storage tank that will eliminate a source of chemical contamination in the water system.

Chester and Lancaster counties

Pennsylvania American Water Company received a $9.9 million loan to upgrade and expand the Rock Run water treatment plant that serves customers in Chester and Lancaster counties. The project will correct chemical contamination and turbidity in the drinking water and make other improvements to the system.

Greene County

East Dunkard Water Association received a $3.9 million loan and a $2.2 million grant to upgrade the existing water treatment plant, construct three new water storage tanks and replace more than seven miles of waterlines in various areas of the system to provide a safe and reliable water source to customers.

Northampton County

Easton Suburban Water Authority received a $5.3 million loan to replace a pump station and more than four miles of water mains to improve the reliability of service to more than 30,000 households in the City of Easton and eight surrounding communities.

Snyder County

Freeburg Municipal Authority received a $1.1 million loan and a $476,390 grant to construct a new water filtration plant to treat the drinking water taken from the authority's two source wells, which have tested positive for bacterial contamination, including high counts of E-coli bacteria.

Wyoming County

Aqua PA received a $975,645 loan to make various improvements that will improve the safety and reliability of service to customers of a drinking water system that the company is taking over at the request of the Public Utility Commission and the Department of Environmental Protection.

PENNVEST WASTEWATER PROJECTS:

Armstrong and Clarion Counties

Redbank Valley Municipal Authority received a $1.1 million loan and a $3.2 million grant to install nearly eight miles of sewage collection lines, replace two pump stations and construct an equalization tank, all of which will eliminate the discharge of untreated sewage into publicly accessible areas due to wet weather overflows and malfunctioning on-lot septic systems.

Butler County

Butler Area Sewer Authority received a $5.1 million loan to construct two surge tanks and associated equipment that will eliminate wet weather discharges of untreated sewage into Saw Mill Run Creek.

Cumberland and Franklin counties

Shippensburg Borough Authority received a $2.8 million loan to upgrade its sewage treatment plant to improve the quality of the plant's discharge and also provide sewage treatment service to a local business that will be able to expand its operations and create 220 new permanent jobs in the area.

Columbia and Luzerne counties

Berwick Area Joint Sewer Authority received a $4.9 million loan to separate more than four miles of combined sanitary and storm sewers that are currently overloaded during wet weather and discharge inadequately treated sewage into the Susquehanna River.

Mercer County

Hermitage Municipal Authority received a $13.8 million loan to upgrade and expand its wastewater treatment plant to eliminate the discharge of raw sewage into the Shenango River that occurs during wet weather. In addition to this water quality improvement, this project will also allow for the expansion of businesses in the area that are currently unable to expand their operations due to an existing sewer connection moratorium.

Monroe County

Pocono Township received an $11.7 million grant to construct nearly 12 miles of new collection sewers and mains to provide service to residential customers as well as a major vaccine manufacturer and other commercial and institutional facilities.

Montour County

Danville Municipal Authority received a $12.1 million grant to upgrade and reconfigure the authority's wastewater treatment plant to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous discharges into the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Northumberland County

Sunbury City Municipal Authority received a $1.9 million loan to construct various improvements to the authority's hydraulically overloaded wastewater treatment system to eliminate wet weather discharges of raw sewage into Shamokin Creek and the Susquehanna River.

Somerset County

Paint Township received a $1.2 loan and a $3.9 million grant to construct more than seven miles of new sanitary sewage collection lines and a pump station to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that are discharging untreated waste onto the Seese Run.

Washington County

Donora Borough received a $2.1 million loan to construct more than 5 miles of sanitary sewers to eliminate the discharge of raw sewage into groundwater and the Monongahela River from malfunctioning on-lot septic systems and wild-cat sewers.

SOURCE Pennvest