Two Pennsylvania projects were among the winners of EPA’s national Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and Clean Water State Revolving Fund awards for 2006.

The Aqua Pennsylvania, Bristol Borough project in Bucks County won the award for Sustainable Public Health Protection. The AMD Reclamation Inc. project in Dunkard Township, Greene County, won the Performance and Innovation category of the State Revolving Fund Creating Environmental Success Award.

These awards recognize projects and program innovations that advance the EPA’s goals and objectives for protection of public health and water quality protection.

The Bristol water treatment facility has been in continuous operation since 1874. Aqua Pennsylvania purchased the facility in 1996 and used a $5.9 million Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan from PENNVEST to rehabilitate and upgrade the facility. Improvements include automating the filters and controls, installation of solids removal equipment, upgrade of chlorination and electrical systems, integration into a central computer system and replacement of leaking roofs.

The project reduced the potential for water filter failure and discharge of contaminants, and eliminated structural safety hazards.

AMD Reclamation Inc. received a $4.3 million Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan from PENNVEST to help build an acid mine drainage treatment facility to prevent the discharge of raw mine water into the area’s surface waters.

This project will also result in the reopening of an existing mine creating an economic benefit to the community. This is the nation’s first Clean Water State Revolving Fund loan to address acid mine drainage.

Recipients of these national awards had to demonstrate leadership and innovation in either financing, project implementation, partnerships or sustainable infrastructure.

For more information, visit the PennVEST website.

12/8/2006