USDA Rural Development is celebrating the funding of a new wastewater treatment facility with a groundbreaking event in Mercer County, PA. The Neshannock Creek Watershed Joint Municipal Authority Sewage Facilities Project has plans to service four different areas in East Lackawannock and Findley Townships in Mercer County. The total cost of the project is $10,870,400, with Rural Development providing funding through a loan of $4,679,000 and a grant of $4,808,400.
Included in the project is the construction of a 150,000 gpd treatment plant, 78,450 lf of small diameter, low pressure pipe, 7,600 lf of force main, 9,500 lf of gravity line, three pump stations and approximately 311 grinder pumps. The proposed project will provide sanitary sewer service to approximately 461 new edus (258 residential edus and 176 commercial/institutional edus). The users include a seasonal camping facility (Plantation Park) and a county prison.
The project area currently consists of malfunctioning on lot systems that discharge raw or partially untreated sewage into unnamed tributaries to or directly into Neshannock Creek. Based on a sewage survey conducted in conjunction with the Act 537 Plan update, the malfunction rates through this area were documented at 45% for East Lackawannock Township and 80% for Findley Township. This project will alleviate the health and sanitary issues associated with failing on-lot systems.
President Obama’s historic investments in rural America have made our rural communities stronger. Under his leadership, investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.