Pennsylvania announces $51.7m investment for drinking water, wastewater projects

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has announced a $51.7m investment for ten drinking water, wastewater and non-point source projects across eight counties.

The investment would be made through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST).

Wolf said: "Today the PENNVEST board of directors made another significant investment in much needed environmental improvement across the Commonwealth.

"Abundant clean water is critical to the health of both our follow Pennsylvanians and the economy of this great Commonwealth."

Of the total investment, $31million is allocated for low-interest loans and the remaining $20.7m is awarded through grants.

Manor Township Joint Municipal Authority in Armstrong County received an $8.5m loan and plans to construct a new water treatment plant to replace the existing 58 year-old plant.

Schuylkill County’s Mahanoy Township Authority will rehabilitate the authority’s unsafe reservoir dam and upgrade a deteriorated spillway using a $2.8m loan in addition to installing new water metres for customers.

A $489,950 loan and a $3.21m grant have been offered to Schuylkill County Municipal Authority to extend a drinking water distribution line to the Village of Newtown in Reilly Township.

Armstrong County’s West Hills Area Water Pollution Control Authority secured a $6.60m loan to construct various sewage treatment system modifications.

Bedford County’s East Providence Township Municipal Authority was provided with a $375,000 loan and a $3.78m grant to improve its existing wastewater treatment plant.

Johnstown City in Cambria County received a grant of $10.9m to construct over six miles of sewage collection lines and related facilities and Clearfield County’s Curwensville Municipal Authority plans to rehabilitate over two miles of sewage collection lines with a $2.5m grant.

In Somerset County, Windber Borough received a loan amounting $1.19m to construct more than a mile of sewage collection lines and Peters Township Sanitary Authority in Washington County will construct a new wastewater treatment plant using a loan amounting to $11m.

In July, Tom Wolf announced a $98.3m investment for twelve wastewater and non-point source projects across twelve counties through PENNVEST.