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Clear skies. Low 62F. Winds light and variable..
Clear skies. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) awarded a $14.1 million grant and $634,347 low-interest loan to the borough of Eldred to support wastewater system improvements.
Dan Plummer, Eldred Borough Council president, only found out about the PENNVEST $14.8 million award moments before The Era called for comment.
“Never. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to receive this much,” he said. “It’s great news but great is not the right word — I don’t have the right words to express it — it’s unbelievable.”
Plummer explained the process of getting the funding to construct a new wastewater treatment facility north of the existing wastewater treatment plant. The existing system serves 353 residential customers in Eldred Borough and Eldred Township.
“You don’t really ask for an amount. The engineer submits the information about the project and what it will cost, and then PENNVEST goes to work to see what they have and can do. We never thought it would go this quickly.”
He thought it would be at least another 10 days to two weeks before they had heard anything, and he certainly didn’t think they would receive this much funding.
“This all happened so fast. PENNVEST met today (Wednesday) and they called the engineer, Jeff Spencer, from Stiffler and McGraw, who does most all our projects. I thought, if we could get half that would be good, two-thirds would be even better, but to get nearly the full cost really takes the worry of high cost loan payments away from the borough.”
Plummer has been on the council since 2019 and said this has been the best news he has received. The council will still need to vote on accepting the funds at the next council meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 15. And Plummer sees no opposition on the horizon. Plans to break ground in March of 2023 and project completion around late summer 2024 look good, per Plummer.
“The borough’s existing wastewater treatment plant, having been constructed in 1967, has reached the end of its useful life,” said Sen. Cris Dush, R-Brookville. “The new plant will address the challenges the existing plant has had dealing with effluent discharge as well as the frequent repairs it has required to stay operational.” The new wastewater treatment facility will include a pump station, headworks, aerobic digesters, ultraviolet disinfection, effluent aeration and reed beds.
Funding has also been approved for Hazel Hurst Water Company, which provides service to residents in Hamlin Township.
A total of $953,435 was approved from PENNVEST, $927,788 grant and $25,647 low-interest loan, to build a new well and water treatment building. The system serves 56 residential customers in Hamlin Township.
“These investments are vital to upgrading aging infrastructure and ensuring a safe water supply for the residents of these communities,” Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, said. “The funding will help minimize the cost burden to consumers for these necessary updates.”
New transmission water lines will be installed from the treatment building to tie into the existing water lines that feed the current water storage tank. The existing water lines and storage tank will be drained and disinfected, and automatic controls and a back-up generator will be installed at the treatment facility.
“This new facility will help address manganese concentrations in the water supply that have been exceeding health advisory levels established by the federal Environmental Protection Agency,” said Dush. “It will meet the needs of necessary quantity and quality of drinking water for those the water system serves.”
Since its inception in 1988, PENNVEST has served communities and citizens by funding sewer, storm water and drinking water projects across the Commonwealth. PENNVEST is not supported by the state’s General Fund budget, which covers the daily operations and services of the Commonwealth. Financing is provided through the use of federal funding and prior bond issues by the state as well as proceeds from the Marcellus Shale Impact Fee legislation, Act 13 of 2012.
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