The Department of Environmental Protection this week awarded $1 million in Growing Greener Innovative Technology Grants to four municipalities in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.

“These four municipalities are to be commended for thinking outside of the box on how to improve the water quality in their communities,” said Gov. Rendell. “Rather than falling back on the same old approach, these innovators looked at the challenges facing their systems and wondered what could be done differently and to the advantage of those who depend on their services.

“The result was four improved wastewater treatment systems that were upgraded in a way that offers additional value to the community; one will better protect against bacteria, another will remove a greater amount of nutrients from the water, and two will produce their own electricity to help power operations.

“Supporting these projects is important to protecting the public health and ensuring the economic vitality of our communities,” said the Governor. “Without a dependable supply of drinking water, or reliable wastewater treatment services, a community’s quality of life and ability to attract new economic development will suffer. Without these essential services, a community cannot grow.”

The grants announced this week include:

· Centre County, Millheim Borough -- $167,065 to upgrade the Millheim Borough sewage treatment plant with a membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment system, which is superior to conventional systems in that it guarantees fecal coliform is removed from the effluent while also being more cost effective.

· Dauphin County: Wiconisco Township -- $82,935 to install wind-driven aerators at the township’s wastewater treatment plant. The existing aerators are in need of replacement, as the current system is prone to breakdowns and the original manufacturer is out of business. The new aerators will allow the township sufficiently to remove nutrients from the wastewater to meet National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permit requirements.

· Mercer County: Hermitage Municipal Authority -- $375,000 to rehabilitate two existing anaerobic digesters and construct additional digester that, together, will provide the authority with the excess capacity to treat alternative feedstocks such as restaurant, grocery and grease trap waste.

· Northumberland County: Milton Regional Sewer Authority -- $375,000 to upgrade the authority’s wastewater treatment plant so it generates renewable energy and is independent of the grid.

Over $1 billion is needed to upgrade wastewater treatment plants to meet Chesapeake Bay nutrient reduction requirements and another $593 million to install conservation measurers on farms. (See Fair Share for Clean Water Funding Plan)

4/25/2008