Pennsylvania Makes Big Investment In Water And Wastewater

The state of Pennsylvania is making a significant commitment to water treatment — investing $68 million for twenty drinking water, wastewater, and non-point source projects across fourteen counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), reported WTAE 4.

$46.8 million of the funding is allocated for low-interest loans. Another $21.3 million will be awarded to various municipalities through grants.

The state’s governor, Tom Wolf, released this statement regarding the initiative: 

“The PENNVEST Board of Directors today continued its commitment to improving the drinking water consumed every day by citizens all across Pennsylvania while also helping to improve the quality of the Commonwealth’s remarkable system of rivers and streams,” said Governor Wolf. “These otherwise expensive projects are brought within the financial reach of the communities who received assistance today, due to the low interest rates and grants that PENNVEST is able to offer its funding recipients.”

Projects are occurring throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Among the municipalities receiving significant funding is Johnstown City in Cambria County and Greene Township in Erie County. Johnstown City received a $5,090,300 loan and a $5,809,700 grant, and Greene Township received a $5,996,394 loan and a $4,909,041 grant, which both municipalities are using to replace collection pipes and manholes and service laterals in order to reduce storm water inflows into sanitary sewer systems, reported WTAE4.

Other projects include the Midland Borough Municipal Authority in Beaver County which has received a $3,549,200 loan and a $4,050,800 grant to install a water intake screen, a pump station and a transmission line, reported WTAE4. The upgrade will deliver up to 7 million gallons of water per day from the intake to the authority’s treatment plant.

The Berrysburg Municipal Authority, located in Dauphin County, received a $521,866 loan and a $178,134 grant to do a complete overhaul of its facilities. The plant plans to replace its entire wastewater treatment system with an upgraded system, as well as convert its existing clarifier into a sludge holding tank.

In Huntingdon County, the Petersburg Borough Sewer Authority is also taking advantage of the initiative, making improvements to its aeration tank, replacing the existing clarifiers, and upgrading the plant’s disinfection system with the $2,043,844 loan and $1,456,156 grant it received.

The funding comes from federal grants to PENNVEST from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards.

Each municipality will not receive funds until after projects are paid for and receipts are submitted to PENNVEST.