Five major water and sewer projects for communities in the 35th Senatorial District have received state funding through the state’s PENNVEST program, according to Senator Wayne Langerholc, Jr.
Langerholc said the funding is vital to providing clean water to area residents, creating jobs and keeping rates down for users of the water and sewer systems.
“Water and sewer systems are very important to the health of a community, but very expensive to build and maintain,” Langerholc said. “Cities, townships and boroughs — and authorities that serve them — can help to pay for upgrades and new construction with the help of a PENNVEST grant or loan.”
The Bedford Township Municipal Authority received a $3.685 million low-interest loan to install approximately 21,000 feet of various sized water mains and a 522,000 gallon water supply tank to provide water to approximately 553 homes in the Camp Sunshine Area that are currently using private wells. The area is prone to flooding, the septic systems are failing, and the wells have documented bacterial contamination.
The Municipal Authority received a second low-interest loan to install a new sewer and grinder pump station in the Camp Sunshine Area to address malfunctioning on-lot and wildcat sewers that are contaminating wells and discharging pollution into the Dunning Creek, which is a tributary to the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River.
The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Johnstown received two low-interest loans which will reduce wet weather sewage overflows to Sams Run and the Stony Creek River. Specifically, the first low-interest loan of $8,134,750 will replace and rehabilitate approximately 12,050 feet of interceptor sewers in the Homerstown/Ohio Street area of the city. The second low-interest loan of $5.58 million will replace the collection pipes, manholes and service laterals located within the Ohio Street and Moxham areas of the city
The Borough of Franklin received $1.281 million in grants and loans to replace 3,885 feet of nearly 100-year-old pipe, 36 lateral pipes, 16 manholes, and plug additional pipes. The project will reduce downstream wet weather sanitary sewer overflows into the Little Conemaugh River. Without the funding, user fees for area residents would have increased by almost 60 percent.
“PENNVEST supports water system improvements across Pennsylvania, helping to safeguard local water supplies, prevent pollution in our streams, and promote public health,” Langerholc said.
Established in 1988, the PENNVEST program provides low-interest loans and grants to communities for new construction or improvements to water and wastewater treatment plants. Many of these small community water and sewer systems are in need of major rehabilitation or are too overburdened to accommodate new growth.
PENNVEST is not supported by the state’s General Fund budget, which covers the daily operations and services of the Commonwealth. Financing is provided through the use of federal funding and prior bond issues by the state as well as proceeds from Act 13 of 2012, the Marcellus Shale Impact Fee.
CONTACT: Gwenn Dando (717) 599-1164