Gov. Ridge Announces Approval of $58 Million for Clean Water Projects

HARRISBURG (Nov. 26) -- Gov. Tom Ridge today announced thatThe Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) approved $56.8 million in loans and $1.2 million in grants for 34 drinking water, wastewater and stormwater projects at its Nov. 26 meeting.

The projects will serve communities in 26 counties across the Commonwealth and help retain 84 jobs and create 95 jobs. PENNVEST's investment also will stimulate over $2.7 million in private investment.

In separate actions, the board also approved resolutions authorizing PENNVEST to apply to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for capitalization grants that will continue funding of the federal wastewater and drinking water revolving loan funds.

In a new EPA effort, some of the federal funds provided for drinking water purposes will be set aside for various activities to be undertaken by the Department of Environmental Protection, including operator certification and training, delineation of water source protection areas and improving the technical and managerial viability of small drinking water systems.

A total of $20.4 million from Pennsylvania's fiscal year 1997 and 1998 capitalization grants will be used for those purposes.

"The state-federal partnership that this new funding represents will benefit thousands of Pennsylvanians -- both now and for years to come," Gov. Ridge said. "This funding will help Pennsylvania maintain the clean water that is so vital to both the physical and economic health of the Commonwealth and also provide opportunities for economic growth and jobs."

The funding for the projects brings PENNVEST's total funding to $1.9 billion for 1,093 loans since the program's inception. PENNVEST provides low-cost financing to local communities to help them meet state and federal environmental standards for clean water infrastructure.

The PENNVEST board approved low-interest loans for the following projects:

DRINKING WATER PROJECTS

Butler County

Evans City Borough: $400,000 loan to reconstruct a leaking spillway that is threatening the existing treatment plant and local residences due to erosion of the spillway foundation and possible loss of a dam.

Cambria County

Carrolltown Borough Municipal Authority: $1,645,888 loan to replace more than four miles of deteriorated water distribution lines and construct a new well to ensure adequate water supplies to the borough.

Carbon County

Lehighton Water Authority: $2,157,871 loan to replace a deteriorated water distribution main to restore a safe water yield and improve fire protection.

Crawford County

Crawford Township Authority: $569,843 loan to construct filtration facilities for existing water sources to eliminate the threat of giardia and cryptosporidium contamination.

Franklin County

Dry Run Water Association: $148,281 loan and $72,219 grant to construct a new water treatment facility and distribution lines that will replace deteriorating facilities and improve the quality of water in the system.

Lycoming County

Limestone Township Municipal Water Authority: $501,650 loan to construct filtration facilities and two back-up wells to prevent contamination by giardia and cryptosporidium from an existing unfiltered source and ensure an adequate supply of drinking water.

Mifflin County

Lewistown Borough Municipal Authority: $7,875,000 loan to expand the existing treatment plant, develop two new wells and make other improvements that will improve both the quality and quantity of water throughout the system.

Schuylkill County

Schuylkill Haven Borough: $2,861,000 loan to upgrade an existing treatment plant and replace more than three miles of water transmission mains that will reduce leaking and improve system pressure.

Tioga County

Knoxville Borough: $185,000 loan to replace a deteriorated reservoir cover to prevent drinking water contamination and construct a transmission line from a back-up water source to ensure continued supply.

Washington County

Charleroi Borough Authority: $412,645 loan to install more than three miles of water distribution lines to provide service to homes that now depend on wells that are contaminated by coliform bacteria.

Pennsylvania American Water Company: $3,250,000 loan to install more than 13 miles of water transmission and distribution lines to provide service to Independence Township, Hopewell Township, West Middletown Borough and customers of the Cedar Grove water system. The households in these areas are currently either using contaminated private wells or are served by the Avella Water Treatment Plant, which is not capable of providing adequate filtration and disinfection.

Westmoreland County

Highridge Water Authority: $1,470,100 loan to install more than 11 miles of distribution lines to provide safe and dependable drinking water to households currently using contaminated private wells.

Wyoming County

Meshoppen Borough Authority: $963,020 loan and $174,000 grant to construct corrosion control and water disinfection facilities as well as transmission and distribution lines to eliminate the use of drinking water contaminated with iron, manganese and coliform bacteria.

WASTEWATER PROJECTS

Allegheny County

Allegheny Township Municipal Authority: $2,157,183 loan to construct more than 10 miles of collection and transmission lines to convey sewage to the Kiski Valley regional treatment facility. The project will eliminate the contamination of Chartiers Run by discharges from an inadequate sewage treatment plant and local on-lot septic systems.

Findlay Township: $194,722 loan to eliminate discharges of untreated sewage from on-lot septic systems into tributaries of Montour Run by constructing sanitary sewers to serve the Moon-Clinton Road area of Findlay Township.

Glassport Borough: $819,903 loan to install gravity sewers, pump stations and force mains in the Washington Boulevard area to eliminate the contamination of the Monongahela River from malfunctioning on-lot septic systems.

Berks County

Douglass Township Board of Supervisors: $2,159,000 loan to construct a sewage collection system to serve the Village of Douglassville by transmitting waste water to the Amity Township treatment facility. The project will eliminate the contamination of local drinking water wells used by residents and businesses. The project is expected to create 30 jobs and retain 50.

Maxatawny Township Municipal Authority: $1,311,910 loan to construct a sewage collection and conveyance system to serve the Village of Bowers, eliminating the contamination of groundwater as well as nearby Sacony Creek.

Chester County

North Coventry Municipal Authority: $5,407,585 loan to eliminate potential contamination of surface and groundwater from an existing overloaded treatment plant and numerous malfunctioning on-lot septic systems in two municipalities by constructing a new wastewater collection and treatment system.

Clearfield County

Cooper Township Municipal Authority: $350,000 loan to design two wastewater treatment plants and a collection system to serve the Grassflat, Winburne, Kylertown and Lanse portions of the township. The project also will eliminate discharges and ponding of untreated sewage from malfunctioning on-lot sewage systems and wildcat sewers.

Crawford County

Vernon Township Sanitary Authority: $755,000 loan to construct a pump station and transmission main to send the township's sewage to a new treatment plant being constructed in Meadville, allowing for the growth of numerous commercial establishments in the area.

Erie County

City of Erie: $4,804,871 loan to construct interceptor sewers that will eliminate overflows during wet weather periods when untreated sewage discharges into Presque Isle Bay and other areas accessible to the public.

McKean Township Sewer Authority: $303,600 loan to design a wastewater collection and treatment system to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems, eliminating the discharge of waste into publicly accessible areas and accommodating the creation of at least 10 new jobs by a local manufacturer.

Northeast Borough: $2,233,000 loan to construct sludge handling, aeration and dechlorination facilities to prevent discharges of inadequately treated sewage into nearby streams.

Greene County

Rices Landing Borough: $170,000 loan to design sanitary sewers, two pump stations and a treatment plant that will be used to eliminate discharges from wildcat sewers that are degrading tributaries of Pumpkin Run and the Monongehela River.

Jefferson County

Corsica Borough: $636,800 loan and $632,800 grant to construct a complete wastewater collection and treatment system for the borough, eliminating discharges of untreated wastewater into Welch Run. The project also will allow the Matson Timberland Company to expand its operation and create 50 jobs in the area.

Juniata County

Richfield Area Joint Authority: $3,007,500 loan and $174,000 grant to construct a sewage collection and treatment system to serve Richfield as well as areas of Monroe and West Perry townships. The project will eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems and wildcat sewers that are discharging untreated sewage into Mahantango Creek and local groundwater sources.

Lehigh County

Washington Township: $5,787,305 loan to install sewers to serve the villages of Emerald, Slatedale, Primrose Heights and Riverview, eliminating the use of septic systems that are discharging inadequately treated sewage into local drinking water wells.

Mercer County

Farrell City: $2,100,000 loan to upgrade the sewage treatment plant to eliminate the bypass of untreated sewage during wet weather periods.

Potter County

Shinglehouse Borough: $313,704 loan and $105,796 grant to construct improvements to the wastewater treatment facility to eliminate overflows of inadequately treated sewage from the plant.

Somerset County

Shade-Central City Joint Authority: $900,000 loan to install sanitary sewers in Central City, separating storm from sanitary sewers and eliminating discharges of sewage into basements during wet weather. Also, sewers will be installed in the Cottagetown area of Shade Township to provide sewer service where none now exists.

Warren County

Brokenstraw Valley: $350,000 loan to design a sewage collection system for the municipalities of Brokenstraw, Pittsfield and Pleasant Township that will eliminate discharges from malfunctioning on-lot septic systems and wildcat sewers. The project is expected to create five jobs and retain 34 jobs.

Westmoreland County

City of Arnold: $417,575 loan to install a new combination sewer line that will replace the existing line that leaks sewage into local basements during wet weather.

STORMWATER PROJECT

Luzerne County

Wright Township: $249,560 loan to replace roadside drainage ditches with a piped stormwater conveyance system to eliminate the flooding of local basements during wet weather.

For more information, contact Paul Marchetti at 717 783-4496.