October 21, 2020
McKeesport – October 21, 2020 – State Senator Jim Brewster today announced over $40 million in state low-interest loan funds for two key local water projects.
“These state PENNVEST dollars will help these communities expedite the completion of these important projects,” Brewster said. “I will continue to seek state support for local public projects.”
According to Brewster, the projects include:
- Elizabeth Township will receive a $17.299 million loan to install a new pump station and conveyance system, including a new force main to convey sewage to an existing multi-municipal treatment center in McKeesport. Brewster said the project will addresses a 2016 Department of Environmental Protection consent order that will also reduce wet weather overflows into a nearby water source.
- Clairton Municipal Authority received a $23 million loan to install four membrane bioreactor basins, two effluent storage tanks, clarifiers and contact tanks. The project will address the system’s long-term control plan, reducing Combined Sewer Overflow bypasses, and reduce wet weather overflows into streams.
The projects wre approved by the PENNVEST board today. The funding for these projects comes from a combination of funds including: Growing Greener, Marcellus Legacy funds, federal grants to PENNVEST from the Environmental Protection Agency, and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards.
Established in 1988, PENNVEST helps fund water and sewer projects statewide.
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January 31, 2019
Harrisburg – January 31, 2019 – A state financing agency has approved funding for a critical project in Elizabeth Borough, state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland) announced.
The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) approved $8.8 million in loan funding for the Elizabeth Borough Municipal Authority’s new water pump station project.
“Ensuring that our communities are receiving clean water is critical and the installation of this new water pump will improve water quality in the area,” Brewster said.
PENNVEST noted that the current water pump station has been experiencing issues with wet weather sewage overflows. The consistent overflows and flooding of the station have decreased the capability of the water pumps to adequately remove grit and contaminants.
With the installation of a new pump station, the municipal authority will be able to better accommodate the amount of wet weather sewage and improve contaminant screening and treatment.
The new water pump station will serve residents in the borough as well as other customers in Elizabeth Township, Lincoln Borough, and Forward Township.
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October 19, 2016
Harrisburg – October 19, 2016 – More than $8 million has been approved to build a new sewage treatment plant in West Elizabeth, according to state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
“The financing package approved today is good news because a significant portion of the funding is a grant that does not have to be repaid,” Brewster said. “A new sewage treatment plant was a necessity, given the age of the facility.”
Brewster said the funding was approved by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). The financing package ratified today included a $3.9 million grant and a $4.9 million loan. The funding was discussed at a meeting today in Harrisburg.
The lawmaker said the financing will specifically be used to construct a three-tank batch treatment unit with the existing plant adapted for sludge processing.
“In order to spur development and create jobs there must be infrastructure that supports commercial and residential customers,” Brewster said. “The new treatment facility in West Elizabeth is the type of significant upgrade that positions the borough for growth and redevelopment.”
There was a need to replace the existing sewage treatment plant, Brewster maintained. The system was overloaded in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2011. The project is intended to eliminate sewage overflows into the Monongahela River during periods of wet weather.
The current treatment plant in West Elizabeth is 46 years old and has become obsolete.
PENNVEST is a state authority created in 1988 to improve water quality by providing grants and low interest loans for water and wastewater improvement projects.
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October 23, 2013
Harrisburg, Oct. 23, 2013 – Today the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority authorized the City of New Kensington to make updates to the water lines to ensure public health and safety, said state Sen. Jim Brewster (D-Allegheny/Westmoreland).
“PENNVEST provides municipalities with access to financial resources to fund a variety of projects,” said Brewster. “This particular project will replace more than 38,200 feet of old cast iron water lines in the system.”
In addition to replacing aging water lines, the project will extend about 10,200 feet of new water line in the Allegheny Township area. This extension will benefit approximately 62 homes that use private wells with water quantity and quality issues.
“Aging water lines have become major liability, and the water lines in the area have suffered numerous leaks and breaks causing damage to streets and service disruptions,” Brewster said. “The water line renovations in New Kensington will reduce the number of water outages, ensure adequate water supply to suppress fires during emergencies and eliminate the 23 percent water loss that currently occurs.”
The municipal authority will receive a loan of $6.7 million to fund the project. Construction is expected to be complete in October 2014.
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