The funding will support 31 drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects across the Commonwealth which will increase water quality for Pennsylvania’s citizens.
Harrisburg, PA – Today, the Shapiro Administration announced the investment of $222.2 million for 31 drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater projects across 21 counties through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). The projects include replacing lead service lines, rehabilitating aging systems, upgrading service capabilities, and reducing environmental contaminants through compliance with current regulatory levels.
“PENNVEST’s priority is making sure every dollar we invest turns into real, lasting benefits for Pennsylvania’s communities," said PENNVEST Executive Director Robert Boos. “Clean water transforms lives and PENNVEST continues its mission to expand our reach and deepen our impact."
PENNVEST funding for water improvement projects originates from a combination of state funds approved by voters, Growing Greener funds, Marcellus Legacy funds, the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act, federal grant awards to PENNVEST from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Clean Water Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards.
The list of project summaries is as follows:
Drinking Water Projects
Allegheny County
- ***Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority – received a $14,214,403 grant and an $11,275,597 loan for a lead service line replacement project in the areas of Allegheny Center, East Allegheny, Troy Hill, East Liberty, Greenfield, Larimer, Lower Lawrenceville, Morningside, Point Breeze, Point Breeze North, Polish Hill, Bedford Dwellings, Strip District, Squirrel Hill North, Squirrel Hill South, and Stanton Heights. The project will replace approximately 578 public and 1,073 private lead service lines in a pool of 3,400 potential homes. Removal of leaded water service lines will provide improved water quality for customers.
- Woodbury Water Authority – received a $984,768 loan for a waterline replacement project. Approximately 2,850 feet of C-900 polyvinyl chloride (PVC) waterline will be installed along Mill Street in Woodbury Borough and Woodbury Township. Replacement of the existing waterline will allow the Authority to meet current and future needs of the system and ensure compliance with future regulations.
Blair County
- ***Altoona Water Authority – received a $9,750,000 loan to update the Horseshoe Curve and Kettle water treatment facilities serving over 17,000 people throughout Blair County. The project plans include replacement of the existing air preparation and ozone generation systems with new liquid oxygen (LOX) storage and feed gas preparation systems, installation of new ozone generators with a closed loop cooling water system, side-stream injection and mixing systems, ozone destructors, piping modifications, electrical work, instrumentation and controls. A new bulk chemical storage tank will also be installed at Horseshoe Curve. This project will complete the Authority’s plan to upgrade the ozone systems across all treatment plants to ensure proper treatment and continued compliance with the current and proposed drinking water standards. The use of liquid oxygen instead of air compressors in the new system will also reduce energy consumption in the facility’s ozone generation process.
- Roaring Spring Municipal Authority – received a $2,325,000 loan to upgrade the source water pumping station serving Roaring Spring Borough and Taylor Township. The current process pumps raw water through disinfection contact time piping, and then it is pumped again into distribution. The project will replace both the raw water and distribution pumps with a single pump station that will eliminate double pumping, provide new back-up power, and improve overall operations.
Bucks County
- ***Buckingham Township – received a $2,057,063 grant and a $615,089 loan to minimize the presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in finished water via treatment at the Hearthstone treatment facility. The project will include the construction of a new treatment facility that will maintain the permitted capacity of 400 gallons-per-minute (GPM) and will include carbon filters and transfer pumps. A 21,000-gallon backwash holding tank will also be constructed. Additional components of the project will include a stormwater infiltration pit and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) controls. The project will address health and safety concerns associated with Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) contamination.
Cambria County
- *East Taylor Municipal Authority – received a $1,165,933 grant and an $8,754,417 loan for a waterline replacement project. The project includes the installation of 22,000 feet of new 2-inch plastic water main distribution line, new customer water service lateral piping, and 162 new water meters. These improvements will bring the Authority into compliance with Chapter 109 Potable Drinking Water requirements, provide customers with a more reliable water supply, and conserve water.
- *The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Portage – received a $4,731,307 grant and an $11,833,693 loan for a waterline and meter replacement project. The project will include the installation of 34,500 feet of water main lines, approximately 15,750 feet of service lines, 24 fire hydrants, approximately 580-meter pits, and appurtenances by utilizing mostly open trench methods of excavation. Railroad and stream crossings will be installed by jack and bore. If lead and galvanized service lines are encountered, the Authority will replace any portions of the existing line containing lead and galvanized to the structure, and within the structure to the existing meter, which will be removed. The replacement of watermains will reduce the quantity and frequency of leakage which will allow for adequate water pressure and supply for the customers.
Chester County
- ***Pennsylvania American Water Company – received a $1,260,842 grant and a $2,939,158 loan for a lead line replacement project in the City of Coatesville. The complete water service line replacement of 240 utility-owned and private-owned lead-impacted service lines will take place. The project also includes use of ¾-inch type K copper service line piping installed via trenched access pits and trenchless installations, restoration, traffic control, and erosion and sediment control. Removal of all galvanized and leaded water service lines will provide direct water quality improvement to the system’s customers and is consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), and the Pennsylvania American Water Company initiatives to remove lead-containing lines from the public water supply system.
Erie County
- ***Erie City Water Authority – received a $3,467,649 grant and a $3,032,351 loan for Phase 3 of their customer-side galvanized service line replacement project. The project will include the replacement of approximately 860 galvanized, customer-side service lines within the City of Erie. This project will also address the replacement of water meters in the case of properties that have customer-owned wrought iron or galvanized services located formerly downstream of goosenecks, resulting in greater accuracy of overall metering in the system. By removing galvanized lines, this project involves proactive steps to maintain compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule revisions, thus ensuring adequate operation of the water system.
- *Erie City Water Authority – received a $12,000,000 loan under the Programmatic Financing (Pro-Fi) Funding Program for 7 projects in the Erie Water Works Capital Improvement Plan. The Sigsbee pump station upgrade project is shovel-ready and will include the replacement of the soft starters with variable frequency drives (VFDs), 3 pumps, electrical gear, roof and windows. Future projects under this funding will include water main replacements at Kuntz Road, McClelland Avenue, and Frontier area. A variable frequency drive (VFD) replacement project will take place at the Richard S. Wasielewski water treatment plant, and restoration at the Sigsbee Reservoir is also planned. The projects under this Pro-Fi funding will help the Authority to continue to meet the needs of and maintain affordable rates for its customers and allow for future growth in the areas directly served, as well as other areas that purchase bulk water.
- Wattsburg Borough – received a $540,000 grant under the Advance Funding Program for the design and permitting of a standpipe replacement and water treatment plant upgrade project that will eventually serve as a second source of supply to support redundancy. The project will be designed to address standpipe leakage and corrosion in the arsenic filters of the current system.
Fayette County
- *Municipal Authority of Washington Township – received a $5,100,000 grant for improvements to the water treatment plant and replacement of various water lines. Plant improvements include the replacement of the motor control center, the raw water pump, and the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. Rehabilitation of the filtering system will also take place to include converting the 4 dual media gravity filters from a surface wash system to an air scour system, and replacing filter media, troughs, and stairs to the filters. Additionally, the project includes the replacement of approximately 15,000 feet of 6-inch, 8-inch, and 12-inch diameter water line and appurtenances. The system upgrades will improve system efficiency, increase flow to fire hydrants, and reduce the potential for water leakage and outages.
Lackawanna County
- ***Pennsylvania American Water Company – received a $7,370,000 loan for a rehabilitation project at Maple Lake Dam. Upgrades to the outlet works system will include a 30-inch diameter ductile iron pipe (DIP) that will bypass the labyrinth weir structure and protrude through the left of the spillway training wall. The 30-inch pipe will be controlled by an unseated, self-contained stainless steel slide gate at the downstream end of the pipe. The upstream end of the pipe will be fitted with a trash rack and with a flanged pipe end for installation of a blind flange if maintenance is required to be performed on the slide gate in the future. Additionally, a seepage collection system will be installed in the embankment of the dam and the embankment will be flattened to increase the overall stability of the structure during a rapid drawdown or probable maximum flood (PMF) event. To mitigate internal erosion of the fill around the concrete culvert that protrudes through the embankment, a filter diaphragm will be installed. This project will increase system capacity to meet PMF flows and address public safety by decreasing the risk of dam failure.
- *Pennsylvania American Water Company – received a $7,326,000 loan for a rehabilitation project at Marshwood Dam. Upgrades to the outlet works system will include a 30-inch diameter ductile iron pipe (DIP) that will bypass the labyrinth weir structure and protrude through the right of the spillway training wall. The 30-inch pipe will be controlled by an unseated, self-contained stainless steel slide gate at the downstream end of the pipe. The upstream end of the pipe will be fitted with a trash rack and with a flanged pipe end for installation of a blind flange if maintenance is required to be performed on the slide gate in the future. Additionally, a seepage collection system will be installed in the embankment of the dam, and the embankment will be flattened to increase the overall stability of the structure during a rapid drawdown or probable maximum flood (PMF) event. This project will increase system capacity to meet PMF flows and address public safety by decreasing the risk of dam failure.
- ***City of Lancaster – received a $953,206 grant and a $756,132 loan for lead service line replacement. This project includes the complete water service line replacement of 108 utility-side, and an additional 19 private-side, lead and galvanized service lines. A total of 2,985 feet of lead-impacted service lines will be replaced with copper lines. Removal of all galvanized and leaded water service lines will provide direct water quality improvement to the system’s customers and is consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP) initiatives to remove lead-containing lines from the public water supply system.
Lehigh County
- Borough of Slatington – received a $993,340 loan for a water meter modernization project. This project will include the installation of 1,409 technologically advanced water meters accompanied by an enhanced data collection system. Additionally, the Borough will purchase and implement a SmartPoint module transceiver, a base station, and a meter reading tablet. The new, modernized system will reduce costs for the Borough and residents by providing more accurate meter reading and will improve water conservation through automated leak detection.
Monroe County
- ***Pennsylvania American Water Company – received a $3,728,985 grant and a $1,115,015 loan for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remediation and treatment at the Summit Point Well serving Mount Pocono Borough and Coolbaugh Township. The project will include the construction of a 55-foot by 30-foot treatment building. Included in the building will be the installation of 2 service pumps, two 5-foot diameter granular-activated carbon (GAC) adsorber vertical pressure vessels on elevated platforms, a sodium hypochlorite feed system, a polymer feed system, a corrosion inhibitor feed system, variable frequency drives (VFDs), raw water piping, a blower for the air scour system, and electrical, lighting and security measures. Additionally, the existing well discharge piping will be replaced with 4-inch ductile iron pipe (DIP) from the well to the new treatment building and the column pipe and pitless adapter will be replaced. The existing wellhouse will be demolished. This project will remove PFAS as well as limit iron and manganese from the drinking water system.
Montgomery County
- ***Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. – received an $11,728,135 grant and a $3,506,865 loan for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remediation projects at the Cabot Well in Upper Merion Township and the Hall Road Well in Abington Township. The existing treatment stations treat groundwater from the wells. At Cabot Well, a new treatment facility will be constructed to maintain the permitted capacity of 1,200 gallons per minute (GPM) and will be located on the property of the existing Cabot Well station. The PFAS treatment will involve the usage of four 12-foot diameter granular-activated carbon (GAC) vessels. At Hall Road Well, a new treatment facility will maintain the permitted capacity of 1,400 gallons per minute (GPM) and will be located on the property of the existing Hall Road Well station. The PFAS treatment will involve the usage of two 12-foot diameter anion exchange resin (AIX) vessels. This project will remove PFAS from the drinking water system.
Perry County
- Liverpool Municipal Authority – received a $930,000 loan for water system improvements. This project includes the replacement of approximately 3,500 feet of 6-inch diameter cast-iron water main, 65 water service lines and curb stops, 3 fire hydrants, and 13 gate valves along Front Street from Route 17 to the area between Liberty Street and Perry Street. The project will contribute to improved water flow and fire protection for the system’s customers, water conservation, and decreased operation and maintenance costs for the Authority.
Warren County
- Youngsville Borough – received a $2,191,511 loan for upgrades and improvements to various facilities in the water system. Upgrades to the chlorination rooms for wells #1, #2, and #3 will include the installation of new ventilation systems with door switch activation. Enhancements to the 200,000-gallon water storage reservoirs will include repairs to the concrete, brick, and grout on the interior and exterior surfaces, application of an NSF-61 approved interior coating system, installation of footer drains and new metal roofing, and replacement of the ventilation system with a properly sized mechanical system. Improvements to the water storage reservoir access building will include the installation of spray foam insulation, safety railings, metal roof, vinyl siding, outdoor lighting, access door, and operating system. These system improvements proactively address potential future system leaks and failures that could affect the quality of the drinking water or potential interruptions to service.
Bedford County
- Saxton Borough Municipal Authority – received a $632,000 loan for improvements at the Power Plant Road lift station serving 764 customers in Liberty Township and Saxton and Hopewell Boroughs. The project includes the construction of a wastewater pump station consisting of 2 submersible pumps, wet well, valve vault, electrical equipment, fencing, and emergency generator. The new station and wet well will contain 2 submersible pumps in a lead-lag configuration. The existing station will be demolished once the new station is operational. After demolition of the existing valve pit, the new valve vault will be installed to include plug valves, check valves, electromagnetic flow meter, and bypass pumping connections. The existing station’s influent plumbing will be reconfigured to convey flows to the new pump station via the proposed gravity sewer line and the addition of 1 manhole. This project will contribute to improved operations at the station.
- Schellsburg Municipal Authority – received a $478,379 grant and a $1,268,511 loan to construct a new sewage pump station to replace an existing station. The Authority intends to construct a new sewage pump station with a capacity of 230 gallons per minute (GPM) adjacent to the existing pump station located along Courtside Drive, in Schellsburg Borough. In addition to the pump station construction, approximately 1,500 feet of replacement force main, a backup generator, and a valve vault will be installed. The project will address compliancy issues of the current station including the lack of a redundant power source aside from the electrical utility provider, inadequate off-site alarming capabilities, and various mechanical ventilation and projection requirements.
Berks County
- **Robesonia-Wernersville Municipal Authority – received a $9,253,750 loan for upgrades to the wastewater treatment facility serving Robesonia and Wernersville Boroughs and Heidelberg, Lower Heidelberg, and South Heidelberg Townships. The project will include the replacement of 3 raw sewer pumps, 3 influent check valves, the Lakeside influent screen, 6 mechanical mixers, the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, and 2 rotating biological contactor (RBC) trains. The aerobic digester will be rehabilitated along with replacement of the weir and trough in 2 digesters and the center manifold in 1 digester. The project will save energy, decrease the chances of mechanical failure at the plant, and prevent the need for the 5 municipalities served to implement individual wastewater treatment plants.
- Pennsylvania American Water Company – received a $25,100,000 loan for improvements at the Fisher, Brewster, and Brewster Booster (FBB) pump stations in Center Township and the Greenwood, Benbrook, and Bryson (GBB) pump stations in Butler Township. Improvements to the FBB pump stations include the construction of new wet wells at Fisher and Brewster, an underground equalization (EQ) tank at Fisher, an above-ground EQ tank at Brewster, and new pumps at all three with connection of existing sewers into the new wet wells, and new generators at each pump station. Work at the GBB pump stations includes the construction of new wet wells, with connection of existing sewers into the new wet wells at Greenwood and Bryson, an underground equalization (EQ) tank and new force main at Greenwood, the decommissioning of the Benbrook pump station and installation of a mobile generator hookup and a manual transfer switch for conversion to a triplex grinder pump station, an upgrade in pumping capacity, and installation of new generators at Greenwood and Bryson pump stations. The project will decrease wet weather sanitary sewer overflow events that affect the Little Connoquenessing Creek and Crooked Run, both cold-water fisheries.
- **Delaware County Regional Water Quality Control Authority – received a $20,000,000 loan for upgrades to the Western Regional Treatment Plant. The project includes the demolition and reconstruction of an existing 175-foot diameter final clarifier. Additionally, a new chemical odor control scrubber will be installed at pump station 6 (PS-6). The replacement of the clarifier will prepare the Authority for an upcoming ultraviolet (UV) light-based disinfection conversion, which will eventually help to eliminate chlorine gas from the system and enhance the safety of the facility and the public. The new odor control scrubber will eliminate the long-term rental cost of the temporary mobile carbon adsorbers that are being used currently.
Erie County
- **Municipal Authority of the Borough of Edinboro – received a $2,290,364 grant and an $8,599,636 loan for improvements to the wastewater treatment plant. The project includes the replacement of the existing Vulcan screen and incorporation of washer compactors for both mechanically cleaned fine screen units; the installation of new grit and grease removal facilities and new return-activated sludge (RAS) and waste-activated sludge (WAS) pumps; the construction of a new building for chemical disinfection storage and feed equipment and a new pump station; and the incorporation of new instrumentation to control the digester blowers more efficiently. Electrical upgrades include the installation of necessary power and controls, a new emergency generator, and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system. These improvements will increase the reliability and efficiency of the treatment plant.
Indiana County
- Borough of Indiana – received a $4,829,635 loan for improvements to the wastewater treatment plant. The project includes the construction of a new 96-foot by 40-foot pavilion-type roofed structure over the headworks facility, the replacement of 4 existing raw sewage grinders with 2 parallel fine bar screen units with ¼-inch bar spacing rated for peak flow conditions of 23.5 million gallons-per-day (MGD) each. Also included is the replacement of the existing chain-and-bucket style grit collection system and appurtenances with a modernized equivalent system, and installation or relocation of all requisite yard piping, utility lines, and various control and monitoring equipment. The project upgrades will decrease maintenance costs by allowing for more efficient processing of solids.
- **Burrell Township Sewer Authority – received a $2,098,110 grant and an $831,890 loan to upgrade the Volks, Socialville, and Strangford pump stations. Improvements to the Volks pump station will include the replacement of existing pumps, controls, rails, piping, valves, and appurtenances in the wet well and valve vault. A magnetic flow meter will be installed in the valve vault and a bypass connection will be added to assist with flow monitoring and maintenance at the pump station. Upgrades to the Socialville pump station will include the construction of a new wet well, the addition of new pumps, pump controls, and bypass connection, the installation of a new aeration system, and the replacement of existing piping and appurtenances in the valve vault. Improvements to the Strangford pump station include the replacement of existing pumps, controls, rails, piping, valves, and appurtenances in the wet well and valve vault. A bypass connection will also be added to the pump station. The improvements will decrease the frequency of equipment failure and operational issues and address the extensive corrosion of the piping.
Union County
- Lewisburg Area Joint Sewer Authority – received a $1,454,000 loan to replace the existing chlorine gas disinfection system with an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system at the wastewater treatment plant. The project will include installation of vertical UV modules within a newly constructed flow channel. The existing chlorine contact tanks will be retained as flow-through tanks. To connect the existing chlorine contact tanks to the new UV channel and to the effluent outfall, 2 new manholes and modifications to an existing manhole will be required along with the installation of approximately 120 feet of new sewer line. Conversion to UV treatment will result in the elimination of hazardous chlorine gas leaks and of chlorine residual in the treated water that is discharged into the West Branch Susquehanna River.
Stormwater Projects
Bedford County
- The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Bedford – received a $2,827,371 grant and a $2,432,629 loan to address the lack of or inadequate storm sewers in the South Side of the Borough. The project will include the installation of approximately 6,275 feet of storm water pipe ranging from 15 inches to 60 inches along with 49 inlets, several manholes, an end wall, and all other necessary appurtenances. Upgrades to the current undersized system will decrease flooding and ponding in the streets and improve driving conditions.
Luzerne County
- Freeland Borough – received a $3,488,681 loan for a stormwater improvement project. The project will address the need for stormwater inlets, piping, curbs, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant ramps, and replace deteriorated paving on Yale, Foster, North, Chestnut, Laurel, and Pine Streets. The project will include the installation of approximately 3,032 feet of 15-inch corrugated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe, 36 inlets,19 ADA-compliant ramps, 9,333 feet of concrete curbing, and associated paving. The project will mitigate flooding of private property, and travel hazards such as icy roadways, potholes, and stagnant water that affects 7 streets in the area.
*Denotes projects that are funded by Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (DWSRF).
**Denotes projects that are funded by Clean Water State Revolving Funds (CWSRF).
***Denotes projects that are funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA).
For projects noted above as funded with DWSRF, CWSRF, and IIJA federal funds, the use of the word ‘grant’ within this release is defined as a principal forgiveness loan, which is the functional equivalent of a grant in that it does not require repayment. For those same projects with loan terms extending beyond 20 years, the use of the word ‘loan’ equates to a bond purchase.