Governor Rendell Announces $79 Million Investment In Water Infrastructure Projects In 15 Counties

October 28, 2009

Harrisburg, PA /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today announced the investment of $79 million in 16 drinking water and wastewater projects in 15 counties.

"The grants and low-interest loans approved by the PENNVEST Board today continues our commitment to improve our water infrastructure, improve our environment and help protect our citizens from water-related health concerns," Governor Rendell said. "Even as we face difficult economic challenges, we are still able to make these investments to improve residents' lives, build a solid and lasting legacy for our children and create jobs."

Of the $79 million total, $67 million is for low-interest loans and $12 million is offered as grants. The awards range from an $890,000 loan to increase the capacity of a pump station to eliminate discharges of untreated waste into the Ohio River from a wastewater treatment plant in Allegheny County, to a $20 million loan to upgrade and expand a wastewater treatment plant in Blair County to eliminate overloading of the facility during wet weather and also to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous discharges to the Chesapeake Bay.

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 contacts:
Paul Marchetti, PENNVEST; 717-783-4496
Gary Tuma, Governor's Office; 717-783-1116

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

PENNVEST STORM WATER PROJECTS:
Delaware County
FC Pennsylvania Stadium, LLC received a $1.6 million loan to control storm water at an 80-acre brownfield site in the city of Chester, thus allowing the construction of a sports facility and other improvements that are anticipated to stimulate more than $100 million in new investment and create 360 permanent jobs during the next three years.

PENNVEST DRINKING WATER PROJECTS:

Beaver County
Monaca Borough received a $4.2 million loan to construct a 5,000-gallon water storage tank and replace two miles of deteriorated water distribution lines to eliminate water outages and provide a reliable water source for consumption and fire protection.

Cumberland County
Pennsylvania American Water Company received a $2.2 million loan to make improvements to the water treatment plant serving the Mechanicsburg area that will enhance treatment capacity and provide a safe and reliable water source to customers.

Lackawanna County
Aqua Pennsylvania received a $3.9 million loan to replace more than five miles of water distribution lines in the Elmbrook, Hamilton, Tambur and Hex Acres systems to eliminate water outages, low pressure and the potential for contamination that is caused by frequent water main breaks.

Northampton County
East Allen Township Municipal Authority received a $2.3 million loan to make improvements to four subsystems, which will included: installing more than two miles of new distribution lines, replacing 60 lateral lines, constructing one pump station and making other improvements that will provide a reliable source of water to customers.

Westmoreland County
New Kensington City Municipal Authority received a $972,000 loan to upgrade backwash and sludge handling facilities at the treatment plant in order to reduce potential discharges of untreated sludge into the Allegheny River.

PENNVEST WASTEWATER PROJECTS:

Allegheny County
Leetsdale Borough Municipal Authority received an $890,000 loan to increase the capacity of the Edgeworth pump station to eliminate discharges of untreated waste into the Ohio River and its tributaries during wet weather.

Blair County
Altoona City Authority received a $20 million loan to upgrade and expand the authority's Westerly Wastewater Treatment Facility to eliminate overloading of the facility during wet weather and also to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous discharges to the Chesapeake Bay.

Bucks County
Bristol Township received a $9 million loan to upgrade the township's sewage treatment plant to eliminate wet weather discharges of untreated and inadequately treated sewage into the Delaware River and Neshaminy Creek. Chester County
Oxford Area Sewer Authority received a $4.3 million loan to increase treatment capacity at the plant, which will eliminate discharges of inadequately treated waste in publicly accessible areas and also allow the lifting of a sewer moratorium on new development in the area.

Clarion County
Knox Borough received a $2.3 million loan to replace eight miles of collection sewers, more than two miles of sewer laterals and 230 manholes, as well as construct 1,240 feet of new storm sewer line to eliminate the wet weather discharge of inadequately treated sewage into publicly accessible areas and Canoe Creek.

Crawford County
Linesville-Pine Joint Municipal Authority received a $4.8 million loan and a $5.9 million grant to construct more than 13 miles of new collection sewers, repair more than a mile of existing sewers and make other improvements to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems in Pine Township and also eliminate wet weather bypasses that currently occur at Linesville's wastewater treatment plant.

Huntingdon County
Alexandria Borough-Porter Township Joint Sewer Authority received a $4.8 million loan and a $2.6 million grant to install more than five miles of new sewer collection lines to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that currently discharge inadequately treated waste to publicly accessible areas as well as local groundwater sources.

Lehigh County
Lower Milford Township received a $530,000 loan and a $1.3 million grant to construct new sewer mains, install 53 individual grinder pumps and construct a new sewage treatment facility to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that are contaminating local drinking water wells and also provide sewage treatment service that will allow for local economic development that is expected to create up to 27 new jobs.

Mifflin County
Oliver Township received a $535,000 loan and a $1.8 million grant to construct more than three miles of new sanitary sewage collection lines to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems and wildcat sewers that are discharging untreated waste onto the Juniata River.

Westmoreland County
Ligonier Township Municipal Authority received a $4.8 million loan to construct nearly 11 miles of sanitary sewers and force main, as well as one pump station, to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems and wildcat sewers that are discharging untreated waste into Loyalhanna Creek and another local stream.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor