Gov. Tom Wolf Wednesday announced the investment of $130.7 million for twelve non-point source, drinking water and wastewater projects across eight counties through the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority.

"These projects are vital to improving Pennsylvania's clean water infrastructure, leading to a healthier and more sustainable environment for all Pennsylvanians," said Gov. Wolf. "These will lead to expanded job growth, which is critical to the future of the commonwealth."

Of the $130.7 million, $107.5 million is allocated for low-interest loans and $23.1 million is awarded through grants.

The funding comes from a combination of state funds approved by voters, federal grants to PennVEST from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and recycled loan repayments from previous PennVEST funding awards. Funds for the projects are disbursed after bills for work are paid and receipts are submitted to PennVEST.

The projects include:

-- Armstrong County: Ford City Borough received a $3,196,800 loan to construct a new 720 thousand gallons per day drinking water treatment plant, install water meters and rehabilitate a finished water storage tank to provide a safe and reliable drinking water supply to system users.

-- Armstrong and Clarion Counties: Hawthorn Redbank Redbank Municipal Authority received a $1,184,254 loan and a $2,835,596 grant to replace more than eight miles of water distribution lines, water service connections, water meters, fire hydrants and other facilities in order to improve fire safety as well as water service to customers.

-- Clinton County: Renovo Borough received a $386,071 loan and a $3,679,687 grant to replace two miles of water distribution mains as well as various service lines, fire hydrants and other facilities, as well as rehabilitate an existing finished water storage tank, all of which will improve service to the borough's customers.

-- Luzerne County: Hazelton City Authority received a $2,210,181 grant to install a two mile water distribution line connecting the authority's system to an existing unfiltered system in the Village of Stockton. This will allow for the abandonment of the existing system and will provide a reliable and safe source of drinking water for the village residents.

-- Berks County:

— Geigertown Area Joint Authority received a $1,997,810 loan and a $3,335,428 grant to construct more than six miles of new sewage collection lines and install other facilities in order to eliminate the use of malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that are contaminating local drinking water wells.

— Reading City received an $84,586,034 loan to upgrade its sewage treatment plant and related facilities in order to eliminate the threat of wet weather discharges of untreated sewage into the Schuylkill River.

-- Cambria County:

— Johnstown City received a $1,860,500 loan to construct sanitary sewers and lateral lines to individual homes and make other improvements in order to eliminate wet weather discharges of untreated sewage into the Little Conemaugh and Conemaugh Riverse.

— Johnstown Redevelopment Authority received a $6,717,000 loan to install almost two miles of sewage collection lines and other facilities that will eliminate wet weather discharges of untreated sewage into the Little Conemaugh and Conemaugh Rivers.

— Westmont Borough received a $6,380,000 loan to rehabilitate its existing sewage collection system by lining almost nine miles of collection lines as well as upgrading related manholes and lateral inspection ports. The project will eliminate wet weather sewage discharges into Stony Creek.

-- Clarion County: Knox Borough received a $7,891,800 grant to replace the borough's eighty five year-old wastewater treatment plant with a new, larger treatment plant that will eliminate wet weather discharges of raw sewage into Canoe Creek and allow the borough to comply with other regulatory requirements.

-- Greene County: Dry Tavern Sewer Authority received a $741,500 loan and a $2,710,000 grant to construct more than four miles of sanitary sewer collection lines in order to eliminate the use of wildcat sewers and malfunctioning on-lot septic systems that are discharging raw sewage into Pumpkin Run.

-- Mercer County: Greenville Borough received a $497,500 loan and a $497,500 grant to upgrade the borough's deteriorated storm water collection system that gets overloaded during heavy rains, resulting in sinkholes and discharges of sediment into Shenango River.

For more information, visit the PennVEST website.

4/27/2015