Funding Will Expand Access to Clean Water in People’s Homes and Businesses in Rural Communities
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) State Director of Rural Development Bob Morgan today announced that USDA is investing $11.3 million in three projects to build and improve critical infrastructure in rural Pennsylvania.
“Infrastructure investments such as these are critical to helping rural Pennsylvania build back better,” Morgan said. “There will be opportunities in the future for these programs more, and we are optimistic about the future of Pennsylvania’s infrastructure under the current Administration.”
The three project investments were made through Rural Development’s Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant Program.
The three projects were made in counties across Pennsylvania.
- In Tioga County, the Upper Tioga River Regional Authority received a $5,074,000 loan and a $4,223,000 grant to provide public water to the area along the corridor and alleviate water quality problems with wells that have been identified as contaminated. The Authority will install approximately 55,000 linear feet of new water mains for public water between Blossburg and Mansfield Boroughs. A flow pressure regulating building will be constructed at the interconnection with Blossburg Municipal, along with construction of a 400,000-gallon water storage tank.
- In Westmoreland County, the Municipal Authority of Westmorland County-Avonmore will use a $1,714,300 grant to construct a new Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) treatment system capable of handling the peak flow rates in the system and eliminate sanitary sewer overflows and hydraulic overload conditions at the plant. The funds will also be used to decommission the existing gravity influent lines and replace with larger lines at the correct grade. Also, the plant will be reconfigured to serve the purpose of headworks, raw sewage pumping, sludge holding, and effluent water supply. The Authority will construct a new ultraviolet disinfection system to meet the new permit limits imposed on the plan transitioning from chlorine. The proposed project will bring the community’s sanitary system up to standard to meet the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s consent order.
- In Venango County, the Barkeyville Municipal Authority will receive a grant of $317,000 to replace water distribution lines, rehabilitate a water storage tank and covert an abandoned water treatment plant building in the municipal building in Grove City, Mercer County, Pa. The building will provide storage for equipment and materials essential for operating the system. The lines are aged and in need of replacement due to high water loss and frequent line breaks resulting in low water pressure and poor quality.
Today’s announcement comes on the heels of Biden-Harris Administration releasing its Lead Pipe and Paint Action Plan. The plan represents a historic effort of unprecedented ambition that will deploy resources from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law while leveraging every tool across federal, state, and local government to deliver clean drinking water by replacing lead pipes and remediating lead paint.
This announcement follows the recent passage of President Biden’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and reflects the many ways USDA Rural Development’s programs are helping people, businesses and communities address critical infrastructure needs to help rural America build back better.
Background
Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, Tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov. If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, promoting competition and fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers. USDA is making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing barriers to providing service as well as building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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