Water Funds for Everyone

Pennsylvania Infrastructure ­Investment Authority funds will help finance $129 million of drinking water and wastewater capital projects in 33 ­different counties.

The $129 million is a combination of general obligation bond proceeds and funds from PennVest’s revolving loan fund. The funds will support 41 projects with $101 million of low-interest loans and another $28 million in grant money.

“We remain committed to cleaning Pennsylvania’s waterways, protecting the public’s health and building a solid foundation for our economic future,” Gov. Edward Rendell said in a statement. “The grants and loans provided through PennVest help local communities make improvements necessary to protect residents, ensure environmental health and stimulate economic prosperity that will benefit residents now and in the future.”

PennVest sold $225 million of long-term debt in the mid-1990s to support its revolving-loan program.

Paul Marchetti, PennVest’s executive director, said the agency is working on a new commercial paper loan program, with a potential sale in August. Using CP may end the need at the local level to go out for interim financing while waiting for anticipated PennVest funds.

“So we’re trying to streamline our disbursements to our funding recipients so we can get money out to them quicker and try to make these projects a little less expensive,” Marchetti said.

The Butler Area Sewer Authority received a $13 million loan to address raw sewage overflow. The utility will build surge tanks, three pump stations, and one mile of sewage collection lines to eliminate overflow at the wastewater treatment plant in Butler County.

About $10 million of bond proceeds will help the Brodhead Creek Regional Authority upgrade its wastewater treatment plant and expand the system’s commercial and industrial client base, which will bring new jobs to the area.

Waynesboro Borough, in the southern region of the state, gained $6.3 million for its storm water drainage system to combat flooding and potential runoff to other public waterways.

In the southwest, nearly $10 million will help the Greater Johnstown Water Authority build 17 miles of new drinking water distribution lines and other ­improvements.

Philadelphia will plant 2,500 trees in its north end to reduce storm water inflows into its combined sewage ­system. The initiative received a $2.4 million grant.

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