HARRISBURG – State Rep. Camille “Bud” George, D-74 of Houtzdale, said the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority approved a $3.5 million loan-and-grant package to the Wallaceton Municipal Authority to upgrade a water system plagued by leaks, outages and low pressure.
“The loan and grant approved by PENNVEST will result in a reliable and safe water system for the people of Wallaceton and nearby families,” said George, a charter member of the PENNVEST board. “The project received high marks for its importance to public safety, compliance with environmental regulations and quality-of-life concerns.”
The project will connect the authority with Pennsylvania-American Water Co. lines, replace 31,000 feet of transmission and distribution lines and rehabilitate a water-storage tank. Work is expected to begin next spring and take nine months to complete.
The upgrades will affect 409 residents, 80 percent of whom reside in Wallaceton Borough. A smattering of nearby residents in Boggs, Bradford and Morris townships also will be affected.
“The link with the water company lines will eliminate the need for the current water source, Rock Spring, which is affected by surface waters and is susceptible to droughts,” George said. “The current lines also are losing more than half their water supplies to leaks.”
The $2,819,283 loan is at 1 percent interest for 30 years. The grant totals $769,417.
PENNVEST, an independent state agency, has approved more than $4.5 billion in financing and created more than 51,000 jobs since its creation in 1988.