23-04-2025
Millions awarded to Pennsylvania communities for water and sewer improvements
HARRISBURG Pa. (WTAJ) — More than $240 million is flowing into Pennsylvania communities to improve aging water and sewer infrastructure, but that's only part of the story. Behind the funding is a push to modernize outdated systems, prevent flooding, and keep drinking water safe for generations.
Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration, through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), approved $242.8 million for 32 drinking water and wastewater projects across 23 counties. The funding supports a wide range of upgrades from replacing lead service lines to rehabilitating high-hazard dams and marks a major milestone in the state's clean water efforts.
PENNVEST has surpassed $1 billion in infrastructure funding within a single fiscal year for the first time, a milestone its chairman Dr. Brian Regli says reflects significant progress and paves the way for continued achievements moving forward.
The investments come from a mix of state and federal sources, including the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and aim to bring systems into compliance with environmental regulations while supporting long-term community needs.
Below is a breakdown of key project awards in central and western Pennsylvania:
WATER PROJECTS
Cambria County
Greater Johnstown Water Authority
$22,121,845 loan
Modifications to the North Fork Reservoir dam, improving safety and preventing potential flooding in communities.
Clearfield County
Clearfield Municipal Authority
$15,628,982 grant
$10,271,018 loan
Replacement of the Montgomery Run treatment system with a membrane filtration system to improve drinking water quality.
SEWER PROJECTS
Blair County
Altoona Water Authority (Announced by Rep. Lou Schmitt and Sen. Judy Ward)
$6,750,000 loan
Replacement of bar screens at Easterly and Westerly CSO Control Facilities to improve water flow and protect nearby waterways.
Cambria County
Scalp Level Borough (Announced by Sen. Wayne Langerholc, Jr. and Rep. Jim Rigby)
$5,135,237 grant
$3,374,763 loan
Installation of more than 8,200 feet of sanitary sewer line and nearly 1,900 feet of stormwater line to reduce overflows and infiltration.
Somerset County
Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset
$10,724,921 grant
$7,975,079 loan
Upgrades to more than 40,000 feet of sanitary sewer piping and 11,000 feet of stormwater pipe to eliminate illegal connections and reduce overflow risks.
State Rep. Brian Smith (R-Jefferson/Indiana), a PENNVEST board member, emphasized the broader significance of these projects.
'Our water infrastructure is so important, and the only way to ensure it sticks to the high standards we have for it is continued investment,' Smith said in a release. 'These funds help ensure our water quality remains high, making our most basic needs as dependable as can be.'
Since its creation, PENNVEST has approved over $12.8 billion in clean water projects.
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