Pennsylvania Governor Wolf Announces $98.3 Million Investment in Water Infrastructure Projects in 12 Counties

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Wolf today announced the investment of $98.3 million for twelve wastewater and non-point source projects across twelve counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). 

"The projects funded at today's meeting continue my administration's commitment to creating a cleaner and healthier environment for all Pennsylvanians while simultaneously encouraging job growth in the Commonwealth," said Governor Wolf. "Efforts such as these are what we need to now in the future to secure the economic and natural wellbeing of the commonwealth."

Of the $98.3 million, $90.8 million is allocated for low-interest loans and $7.5 million is awarded through grants.

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. Please note: the asterisk (*) before a funding recipient's name denotes projects funded from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, which is capitalized by grants awarded to PENNVEST by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

PENNVEST Wastewater Projects

Berks County*Reading City received a $37,214,485 loan to upgrade its sewage treatment plant and related facilities in order to eliminate the threat of wet weather discharges of untreated sewage into the Schuylkill River.

Cambria County

• Johnstown City received a $10,900,000 loan to construct sanitary sewers and lateral lines to almost two thousand individual homes and make other improvements in order to eliminate wet weather discharges of untreated sewage into the Little Conemaugh River.

• Lower Yoder Township received a $5,900,000 loan and a $4,985,000 grant to construct more than five miles of sewage collection lines and make other improvements that will eliminate discharges of untreated sewage into the Elk and Conemaugh Rivers that occur during wet weather.

Lackawanna CountyScranton City Authority received a $9,095,489 loan to construct a 1.2 million gallon retention basin that will be able to hold all of the flows from the City's combined sanitary and storm sewer systems that will occur during wet weather.  The current wet weather overflows discharge both pathogens, which are a threat to public health, and trash into the Lackawanna River. 

Lebanon CountyFarmers Pride, Inc. received a $1,973,773 loan to make various improvements to its existing wastewater treatment plant that will reduce nutrient discharges into the Chesapeake Bay watershed while also allowing for the expansion of the company's poultry processing and distribution facility, which will create at least 380 new jobs. 

Westmoreland County* Western Westmoreland Municipal Authority received a $19,939,100 loan to upgrade its sewage treatment plant and related facilities in order to eliminate the wet weather discharges of untreated sewage into Brush Creek.

Non-point Source Water Quality Improvement Projects

Butler CountyLancaster Township received a $565,000 grant to construct half a mile of storm sewers in order to eliminate hazardous roadway conditions and nutrient contamination of Scholars Run that occur during wet weather.

Columbia and Luzerne Counties* Berwick Area Joint Sewer Authority received a $2,902,788 loan to eliminate combined sewer overflows that occur during wet weather and discharge untreated wastewater into the North Branch of the Susquehanna River by constructing almost two miles of storm sewers and related facilities.

Delaware CountyNorwood Borough received a $1,358,000 grant to construct a storm water collection system, using both traditional and green technologies, to reduce the erosion and sedimentation of Darby Creek that occur during wet weather.

Lancaster County* Chester County Conservation District received a $229,380 loan to construct a new manure storage facility and other improvements on a dairy operation where the land slopes down directly to a stream.  The project will eliminate manure run-off that is contaminating a tributary of Mill Creek that, in turn, runs into the Conestoga River.

Schuylkill County* Keystone Anthracite Co. Inc. received a $2,620,736 loan to construct a facility that will reduce the aluminum concentration from the mine discharge that is currently contaminating Mahanoy Creek, which is listed on the impaired waters list due to acid mine drainage.

York County* Chester County Conservation District received a $609,128 grant to construct a new manure storage facility and other improvements on a dairy operation that presently has limited manure storage capacity.  The project will also eliminate livestock access to Muddy Creek.  The project will eliminate manure run-off that is contaminating the creek, which flows into the Susquehanna River and eventually the Chesapeake Bay.

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SOURCE PENNVEST