Pennsylvania Governor Corbett Announces $53 Million Investment in Water Infrastructure Projects in 15 Counties

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced the investment of $53 million in 17 non-point source, drinking water and wastewater projects across 15 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). 

"The PENNVEST Board of Directors today committed millions of dollars of precious financial resources in order to improve the environment and lay the foundation for economic growth," Corbett said. "Communities all across the commonwealth will benefit from this investment."

Of the $53 million, $44 million is for low-interest loans and $9 million is offered as grants.

The awards range from a $460,000 loan to design improvements to a wastewater collection and treatment system in Perry County that will protect local drinking water wells from contamination and stimulate the creation of 250 new jobs, to a $7.5 million loan/grant combination to improve the quality and safety of drinking water for customers of an authority in Erie County.

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.

Media contact:  Paul Marchetti, 717-783-4496

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

PENNVEST Non-point Source Projects:

Allegheny County

Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority received a $2,720,000 loan to construct new storm inlets and catch basins, along with more than half a mile of new storm sewers, to eliminate illegal storm water inlet connections to the authority's sanitary sewer system.

Lancaster County

Samuel K. Glick owner and operator of a dairy operation in Bart Township received a $270,188 grant to construct a new manure storage facility and storm water management improvements that will eliminate nutrient run-off into Meetinghouse Creek which is a tributary to the Chesapeake Bay.

Philadelphia County

Cranaleith Spiritual Center received a $160,000 loan to remove compacted soils and install perforated pipes and other storm water mitigation measures to eliminate sediment runoff into Poquessing Creek and the Delaware Estuary.

PENNVEST Drinking Water Projects:

Cambria County

Northern Cambria Municipal Authority received a $3,458,776 loan to eliminate sulfate and other drinking water contamination by expanding an existing water treatment plant, constructing water storage tanks and make other improvements that will make the authority's water drinkable for its 2,200 customers.

Cameron County

Emporium Water Company received a $2.5 million loan to eliminate water outages and low water pressures for customers by installing two new finished water storage tanks, rehabilitating a third tank and constructing a pump station and additional transmission lines.

Clearfield County

Huston Township Water Authority received a $645,000 loan to eliminate water outages and the contamination of drinking water due to leaking water lines by replacing more than three miles of water distribution mains and making other system improvements.

Erie County

Union City Municipal Authority received a $3,094,763 loan and a $4,405,237 grant to install new water transmission lines, construct a new finished water storage tank and make a variety of improvements to its water treatment plant in order to meet existing disinfection and drinking water filtration requirements.

Warren County

North Warren Municipal Authority received a $2,280,000 loan to construct more than three miles of water distribution lines, install 320 new service connections and make other improvements to eliminate significant water losses and frequent breaks of the authority's existing deteriorated water distribution lines.

Westmoreland County

New Kensington Municipal Authority received a $6,739,150 loan to replace more than seven miles of old, deteriorated water distribution lines that frequently break, causing damage to streets and disruptions of service to authority customers.  Also, nearly two miles of new distribution lines will be installed in order to provide service to 62 homes that currently use private wells that have both water quantity and water quality problems.

PENNVEST Wastewater Projects:

Allegheny County

Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority received a $2.3 million loan to construct new storm sewer pipes in order to eliminate storm water flows into the authority's sanitary sewer system, which cause wet weather overflows of untreated sewage into the Monongahela River.

Armstrong County

Hawthorn Redbank Redbank Municipal Authority received a $739,251 loan and a $2,642,499 grant to construct more than five miles of new gravity sewers and force mains in order to extend sewer service to an area of Redbank Township where more than half of the individual on-lot septic systems are malfunctioning, causing associated public health risks.

Blair County

Altoona Water Authority received a $6,525,000 loan to install more than two miles of new sewer lines and make a variety of improvements to the authority's sewage treatment plant in order to eliminate wet weather overloading of the wastewater treatment system that results in the discharge of untreated sewage into Brush Run.

Erie County

Girard Borough received a $6.1 million loan to construct a 500,000 gallon equalization basin and make various improvements at the borough's wastewater treatment plant to eliminate wet weather discharges of partially treated or untreated sewage into Elk Creek, which is a cold water fishery.

Indiana County

Saltsburg Borough received a $1,602,665 loan and a $1,582,335 grant to construct a new wastewater treatment plant, a pump station and new sanitary sewer lines to eliminate wet weather discharges of untreated sewage into the Conemaugh River.

Lycoming County

West Branch Regional Authority received a $3,924,600 loan to decommission and demolish two outdated wastewater treatment plants that are causing wet weather overload conditions in the authority's system, as well as to replace or rehabilitate more than two miles of deteriorated sewage collection lines.  This project will not only improve local stream quality but will also allow local businesses to retain 572 existing jobs and create 30 new jobs, as well as stimulate $800 in new business investment over the next three years.

Mercer County

Shenango Township Municipal Authority received a $1,275,000 loan to design a variety of improvements to the authority's wastewater treatment plant as well as collection line extensions to areas of the township where more than 50 percent of the individual on-lot septic systems are malfunctioning and threatening nearby drinking water wells.

Perry County

Howe Township Municipal Authority received a $460,000 loan to design sewer line extensions to serve areas of the township where individual on-lot septic systems are malfunctioning and contaminating more than 60 percent of the private drinking water wells.  The project will also allow local businesses and a medical center to create 250 new jobs.

SOURCE PENNVEST