Gov. Wolf Announces $98 Million Investment In Water Infrastructure Projects In 11 Counties

On October 16, Gov. Tom Wolf announced the investment of $98 million for 16 drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and nonpoint source projects across 11 counties through the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority.

“The projects approved today continue to demonstrate the Commonwealth’s commitment to partnering with communities to ensure clean, safe water facilities for Pennsylvania’s citizens,” said Gov. Wolf. “This funding plays a vital role in rebuilding our aging infrastructure and restoring a strong foundation for communities to continue to grow.”

The largest green infrastructure project funded in this announcement is a $13 million loan to Capital Region Water in Dauphin County to implement four phases of Capital Improvement Plan green infrastructure improvements in South Allison Hill, Camp Curtain, Lower Paxton Creek, and Uptown areas surrounding the City of Harrisburg. The project will reduce wet weather discharges into the Susquehanna River and aid in satisfying a local consent order.
The funding for these projects originates from a combination of state funds approved by voters, Growing Greener, Marcellus Legacy funds (supported by the Act 13 drilling impact fee), federal grants to PennVEST from the Environmental Protection Agency, and recycled loan repayments from previous PennVEST funding awards. 

Funds for these projects are disbursed after expenses for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PennVEST for review.

“PennVEST funding has provided much-needed financial assistance to Pennsylvania’s communities for decades, but as the need for costly infrastructure improvements continues to grow, so must our responsibility to be a commensurate partner in those investment increases,” said Gov. Wolf. “Restore Pennsylvania will bolster existing efforts like these to reach out to more communities and re-establish safe, working infrastructure.”

Here are just some of the projects funded--

Nonpoint Source Water Quality Improvement Projects

-- Chester County Conservation District – received a grant of $895,700 to construct an agricultural liquid waste storage and collection system as well as a stormwater piping and collection system. The project will reduce nearly 9,000 pounds of nitrogen from a local waterway which serves as a drinking water resource for local communities and will also control agricultural stormwater run-off.

-- Chester County Conservation District – received a grant of $429,513 to construct a concrete waste storage structure, unloading pad, 200 feet of drain, and various other agricultural improvements. The project will eliminate more than 2,000 pounds of nitrogen, improving local waterways and reducing agricultural stormwater run-off.

-- Chester County Conservation District – received a grant of $454,148 to construct a concrete cattle lot, reception pit, and cover for manure storage to reduce run-off. The project will eliminate more than 4,000 pounds of nitrogen, improving a local waterway and controlling agricultural stormwater runoff.

-- Cumberland County, East Pennsboro Township Authority – received a $500,000 loan to design and construct a new stormwater system as well as retrofit existing facilities and restore local streams. The project will serve 10,000 residential customers and will reduce siltation due to urban runoff, assisting the community in complying with municipal separate storm sewer system requirements.

-- Delaware County, Stormwater Authority of the City of Chester – received a $9,946,801 loan to install 9,200 feet of pipe, 125 catch basins and 50 manholes. The project will improve water quality in local waterways and drastically reduce siltation.

Stormwater Project

-- Delaware County, Ridley Township – received a $2,287,945 loan to install 8,105 feet of storm sewer, 108 inlets, three manholes, 390 feet of infiltration trench, and a 7,500 square-foot infiltration bed. The projects will eliminate local flooding and install green infrastructure. The project will eliminate local flooding concerns, which pose a threat to public safety, and install green infrastructure, improving water quality.

Click Here for a complete list of projects funded.

For more information on water infrastructure funding, visit the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority website.

(Photo: Harrisburg sewer overflow to the Susquehanna River.)
[Posted: October 16, 2019]  www.PaEnvironmentDigest.com