State funding to improve water, sewer systems
Three Beaver County communities and the City of New Castle are among a select number of recipients of highly competitive H2O PA grants, according to Senator Elder Vogel.
H2O PA was created under Act 63 of 2008 to fund water and sewer projects, as well as storm water projects, flood control projects, and high-hazard dam repairs.
The Ambridge and Rochester boroughs and North Sewickley Township in Beaver County and the City of New Castle in Lawrence County were awarded grants by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.
The Commonwealth Financing Authority received 720 applications for the current cycle of H2O PA grants. Awards were based on legislated priorities including environmental conditions and regionalization.
“These grants are extremely competitive. That shows how important these projects are to their respective communities,” Senator Vogel said. “If you look at the successful applicants from the 47th District, you can see that these projects are intended to correct existing problems that could create serious environmental hazards. I want to commend Ambridge, Rochester, North Sewickley and New Castle for aggressively seeking these grants and congratulate them for successfully securing this funding.”
The Borough of Ambridge will use its $4 million grant to address a Department of Environmental Protection Consent Order by upgrading its treatment plant and pump station to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows.
The Rochester Borough Sewer and Maintenance Authority will apply its $1 million grant toward the construction of new sanitary sewers to serve borough residents. The project is expected to reduce the potential for sanitary sewage overflow into the Beaver River, Ohio River and McKinley Run.
North Sewickley Township’s $500,000 grant will go for sewer improvements intended to eliminate malfunctioning on-lot septic systems and stop untreated sewage discharge to ground water.
The New Castle Sanitation Authority will use its $1 million grant to install a 6 million gallon flow equalization facility at its wastewater treatment plant.
CONTACT: Joe Weidner
(717) 787-3076