HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, said that PENNVEST Tuesday approved a $5.5 million, low-interest loan for Clearfield’s borough-wide sewerage-reconstruction project.
“The loan will help pay for replacement of the entire sewage-collection system in Wards 2 and 4.” said George, a Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority board member. “More than 16 miles of sanitary sewer line will be installed in this segment of the project.”
More than 6,600 borough residents will be served by the new system, which replaces a system infamous for raw-sewage discharges into the river, wracked by deteriorated manholes and piping, and prone to backups.
“The project has not been painless in anyone’s estimation,” George said. “However, doing nothing was not an option as the federal government is requiring compliance on sewer discharges, and the antiquated system was choking the borough.”
Work in Wards 2 and 4 is projected to begin in February and take about nine months to complete.
The 30-year loan at 1 percent interest is the third financing approved by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority in the last three years. To date, Pennvest has approved $25.4 million in low-interest loans and a $1 million grant for the borough project.