Corbett Announces Multi-Million Dollar Water Infrastructure Investments

HARRISBURG – Gov. Tom Corbett announced the investment of $134 million in 25 non-point source, drinking water and wastewater projects in 21 counties.  

“Today’s (Wednesday’s) approvals by the PENNVEST Board of much-needed funding for clean water projects throughout the commonwealth affirms my administration’s commitment to protecting and improving the environment while creating a solid foundation for future growth in Pennsylvania,” Corbett said. “Despite challenging economic times, the PENNVEST Board is investing in our future and protecting our environment.”

Of the $134 million total, $75 million is for low-interest loans and $59 million is offered as grants.

The awards range from a $100,000 loan to install water distribution lines in a Westmoreland County community so that residents will no longer have to haul drinking water to their homes; to a $36 million, evenly split loan/grant combination to upgrade and expand a wastewater treatment plant in Allegheny County to eliminate overloading of the facility during wet weather and the resulting discharges of waste into the Youghiogheny and Monongahela Rivers.

The funding approved today comes from a combination of commonwealth funds approved by voter referenda, 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 about PENNVEST, visit www.pennvest.state.pa.us.

Editor’s Note: A county-by-county list of project summaries follows:

PENNVEST Non-Point Source Projects:

Bucks County

• Bucks County Conservation District received a $129,406 loan to control stormwater at two equine farms in Northampton and Middletown townships that are currently allowing nutrient contamination of the Neshaminy watershed.

Chester County

• Chester County Conservation District received a $1,505,664 grant to construct wastewater collection, storage and treatment facilities as well as stormwater control facilities to reduce nutrient pollution of local streams by runoff from mushroom and dairy farms in various localities in the county.

Columbia County

• Berwick Area Joint Sewer Authority received a $5,593,226 loan to install more than three miles of storm water piping and other facilities that will reduce wet weather overloading of the combined sanitary and storm sewer collection systems in Berwick Borough that now discharge waste into the Susquehanna River.

Lancaster County

• Lancaster City received a $7 million loan to construct stormwater control facilities at 35 locations throughout the city, such as porous pavement in parking lots and streets, green roofs, rain gardens and rain barrels. These improvements will capture stormwater when it rains, thus reducing infiltration into the sanitary sewage system and the resulting discharge of sediment and nutrients into the Conestoga River and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.
• Lancaster County Conservation District received:
  • a $425,397 grant to construct various manure-control facilities at a dairy and poultry operation in West Lampeter Township that will reduce nutrient runoff into Pequea Creek, which empties into the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay.
  • a $148,802 grant to construct manure-control facilities at a poultry farm in Strasburg Township, where nutrient runoff during wet weather is contaminating Big Beaver Creek and, ultimately, the Chesapeake Bay.

Montour County

• Montour County Conservation District received a $495,000 grant to install manure and animal control facilities at two livestock farms where there is significant nutrient runoff into Mahoning Creek, Beaver Run and ultimately the Chesapeake Bay.

Venango County

• Pleasantville Borough received a $660,000 loan to replace stormwater-control facilities that will eliminate the discharge of sediment into a local stream as well as eliminate property and basement flooding resulting from the accumulation of material in the borough’s stormwater system.

PENNVEST Drinking Water Projects:

Columbia County

• Mifflin Township Water Authority received a $1,246,350 loan to construct a dedicated water transmission main and improve a pumping station to significantly reduce water leaks in the township’s drinking water system that cause water outages and compromise fire protection capabilities.

Fayette, Greene, Somerset and Washington counties

• Seven Springs Borough Municipal Authority received a $1,507,500 loan to construct two water storage tanks to provide a reliable source of water for consumption and fire protection.
• Southwestern Pennsylvania Water Authority received a $6,659,920 loan to construct more than 16 miles of water lines and install 13,000 water meters to improve water service to households in two communities that have inadequate water supplies as well as water quality problems with their drinking water wells.

Northampton County

• East Allen Township Municipal Authority received a $3,739,936 loan to install more than three miles of new water distribution lines, construct two booster pump stations and make other improvements that will reduce water outages and potential contamination.

Westmoreland County

• Westmoreland County Municipal Authority received a $100,000 loan to construct almost a mile of new water distribution line along Slope Hill Road in Mount Pleasant Township to eliminate the need for households with inadequate water supplies from their drinking water wells to haul water to their homes.

PENNVEST Wastewater Projects:

Allegheny County

• Brackenridge Borough received a $3.6 million grant to rehabilitate almost seven miles of sewer lines and manholes to eliminate wet weather discharges of waste into the Allegheny River.
• Etna Borough received a $550,220 loan to rehabilitate its combined sanitary and storm sewer system to eliminate wet weather discharges of waste into Pine Creek, which empties into the Allegheny River.
• McKeesport City received an $18,412,500 loan and an $18,412,500 grant to more than double the capacity of its sewage treatment plant in order to eliminate wet weather discharges of waste into the Youghiogheny and Monongahela rivers.

Armstrong and Clarion counties

• Redbank Valley Municipal Authority received a $6.2 million grant to expand the capacity of its treatment plant and extend public sewers into new areas of South Bethlehem Borough and Mahoning Township in Armstrong County, as well as New Bethlehem Borough and Porter Township in Clarion County, in order to eliminate the wet weather discharge of untreated sewage into publicly accessible areas.

Blair County

• Altoona Water Authority received a $10 million loan and a $10 million grant to upgrade and expand its sewage treatment plant in order to meet permitted discharge requirements of waste and annual limits for nitrogen and phosphorous discharges to the Chesapeake Bay.

Cambria County

• Franklin Borough received a $65,045 loan and a $2,819,955 grant construct more than two miles of sanitary sewers and make other improvements to eliminate wet weather overflows of sewage into the Little Conemaugh and Conemaugh Rivers.

Clarion County

• East Brady Borough received a $3,510,135 grant to construct a new, larger wastewater treatment plant in order to meet required discharge limits and eliminate wet weather discharges of partially treated waste into the Allegheny River.

Crawford County

• Titusville City received an $845,000 loan to install upgrades to its sewage treatment plant that will eliminate wet weather discharges of untreated waste into Church Run, a high-quality trout stream.

Mifflin County

• Lewistown Borough received an $8,730,500 loan and an $8,730,500 grant to install upgrades to its wastewater treatment plant to eliminate wet weather discharges of waste as well as nitrogen and phosphorous discharges into the Juniata River and ultimately into the Chesapeake Bay.

Perry County

• Millerstown Municipal Authority received a $1,807,500 loan to upgrade and expand its wastewater treatment plant and correct infiltration problems in its collection system in order to eliminate wet weather discharges of waste as well as excessive nutrient discharges into the Juniata River and the Chesapeake Bay.

Warren County

• Sheffield Township Municipal Authority received a $5,513,571 loan and a $2,256,712 grant to upgrade and expand its wastewater treatment plant and install more than 14 miles of new collection lines and a pumping station to serve four areas of the township that have malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that are discharging inadequately treated sewage.

Westmoreland County

• West Newton Borough received a $2,250,000 loan and a $588,350 grant to rehabilitate various areas of its combined sewer system to eliminate wet weather overflows into the Youghiogheny River.