Pennsylvania Governor Corbett Announces $99 Million Investment in Water Infrastructure Projects in 20 Counties

HARRISBURG, Pa., July 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Tom Corbett today announced the investment of $99 million in 27 non-point source, drinking water, and wastewater projects in 20 counties.  

"The PENNVEST Board of Directors today made another commitment to the future of Pennsylvania's environment and economic well-being," Corbett said. "By investing millions of dollars in clean water and job-creating projects all across the state, the board has taken another significant step in furthering the administration's vision of a brighter and more secure future for our children and grandchildren."

Of the $99 million total, $73 million is for low-interest loans and $26 million is offered as grants.

The awards range from a $157,534 grant to construct a manure storage facility at a farm in Lancaster County to reduce nutrient run-off into the Chesapeake Bay watershed; to a $20 million, loan/grant combination to upgrade and expand a wastewater treatment facility in Schuylkill County to eliminate storm-water overloading of the facility, which also impacts the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

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.

Media contact:  Paul Marchetti, PENNVEST; 717-783-4496

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

PENNVEST Non-Point Source Projects:

Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery Counties

• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission received a $2,294,902 grant to control storm water runoff in seven municipalities in southeastern Pennsylvania by planting more than 3,000 trees in these communities.

Jefferson County

• Jefferson County Conservation District received a $750,000 grant to  construct an acid mine drainage facility to eliminate contamination of Stump Creek and the Mahoning Creek Watershed that is caused by discharges from an abandoned mine in Sykesville.

Lancaster County

• Lancaster County Conservation District received funding for a number of projects that will reduce nutrient runoff into local streams and the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  The individual awards and projects were:
  • A $163,213 grant to construct a manure storage facility at a poultry operation in Paradise Township.
  • A $573,188 grant to construct a manure storage facility at a farm in Ephrata Township.
  • A $176,210 grant to construct a manure storage facility at a farm in Mount Joy Township.
  • A $157,534 grant to construct manure litter storage shed at a poultry operation in Strasburg Township.
  • A $657,050 grant to construct a manure composting facility as well as an infiltration basin at a farm in Drumore Township.
  • A $212,056 grant to construct a manure storage facility and make other improvements at a second farm in Strasburg Township.

PENNVEST Drinking Water Projects:

Armstrong County

• Brady's Bend Township Water and Sewer Authority received a $1,575,388 loan and a $643,787 grant to construct more than four miles of drinking water distribution lines to serve a portion of the township where more than half of homes have private drinking water wells that are contaminated by coliform and e-coli bacteria.
• Rural Valley Borough received a $432,698 loan and a $227,302 grant to replace almost a mile of water distribution line and make other system improvements that will eliminate frequent water outages due to breaks in the existing, deteriorated distribution lines.

Clinton County

• Suburban Lock Haven Water Authority received a $418,832 loan and a $381,168 grant to install more than three miles of new water distribution lines so that the Whiskey Run Water Association, whose water source is subject to possible contamination from surface waters, can interconnect with the authority's drinking water system.

Crawford County

• Conneautville Borough received a $940,000 loan to construct more than a mile of new water distribution line and make other system improvements to eliminate frequent water line breaks that create the opportunity for contamination of the borough's drinking water.

Dauphin County

• Harrisburg Authority received a $5,668,000 loan to construct two miles of new water distribution lines and install 21 fire hydrants in order to eliminate low water pressures, providing an improved source of potable water to system customers, as well as improving fire protection in the service area.

Tioga County

• Watrous Water Association received a $130,841 loan and a $92,659 grant to design a new water system and conduct well exploration activities in order to replace the association's existing spring water sources that are subject to contamination from surface water sources.

Venango County

• Pleasantville Borough received a $1 million loan to replace more than half a mile of water distribution line and make other system improvements that will increase system water pressures to improve fire protection capabilities at a local school and the surrounding area.

PENNVEST Wastewater Projects:

Allegheny County

• Mt. Oliver Borough received a $575,000 loan to rehabilitate various portions of the wastewater collection system in order to eliminate wet weather discharges of waste into the Monongahela River.

Armstrong, Cambria, Clearfield and Indiana counties

• Indiana County Municipal Services Authority received a $2,539,500 loan to construct a new wastewater collection and treatment system in order to eliminate wildcat sewers that are discharging raw sewage directly into tributaries of the Conemaugh River.

Crawford County

• Northwest Crawford County Sewer Authority received a $373,334 loan to upgrade and expand its sewage treatment facilities in order to meet permitted discharge requirements of waste and eliminate overloading of the system during wet weather.

Franklin County

• Waynesboro Borough received an $11,164,910 loan to upgrade the borough's wastewater treatment plant so that it will meet discharge nitrogen and phosphorous discharge requirements to protect local streams and the Chesapeake Bay.

Lawrence County

• Wampum Borough received a $601,332 loan to improve more than a mile of collection line and rehabilitate sanitary sewer manholes to eliminate wet weather discharges of waste into publicly accessible areas as well as the Beaver River.

Lebanon County

• Northern Lebanon County Authority received a $600,023 loan to construct more than a mile of sewage collection line and make other system improvements in order to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that pose public health concerns in the Mountville area of the county.

Lycoming County

• South Williamsport Borough received a $5,968,428 loan and a $1,567,572 grant to upgrade and expand existing sewage treatment facilities in order eliminate wet weather discharges of waste into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.

Northampton County

• Bethlehem City received a $9,429,730 loan to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant to eliminate discharges of inadequately treated waste into the local receiving stream.

Northumberland County

• Delaware Township Municipal Authority received an $8,461,975 loan and a $2,338,025 grant to construct almost 10 miles of wastewater collection and conveyance lines in order to provide service to an area of the township where on-lot systems are malfunctioning and also to connect both the township and Watsontown Borough with the Milton Regional Sewer Authority, which will provide treatment for these communities whose existing treatment facilities are reaching the end of their expected design lives.
• Lewis Township received a $2,731,352 loan and a $2,311,903 grant to construct six miles of sewage collection and conveyance lines, as well as other facilities, in order to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that are contaminating local drinking water wells with coliform bacteria.
• Shamokin-Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority received a $7,760,000 loan and a $12,240,000 grant to upgrade and expand its wastewater treatment plant to eliminate discharges of inadequately treated waste into Shamokin Creek and to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous discharges into the Chesapeake Bay.

Schuylkill County

• Schuylkill County Municipal Authority received a $12,454,430 loan and a $1,545,570 grant to upgrade and expand its wastewater treatment plant, construct several miles of sewage collection lines and eliminate several small, inadequate treatment plants in order to eliminate discharges from wildcat sewers and malfunctioning on-lot septic systems into local receiving streams and provide treatment capacity for local economic development.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor