HARRISBURG – Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27) and Rep. Mike Cabell (R-117) today announced $12.75 million in state funding has been awarded to Conyngham-Sugarloaf Joint Municipal Authority to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant.
“This funding will ensure the wastewater treatment plant can adequately serve local residents while also helping to protect the environment,” Culver said. “This is a significant state investment in an essential community infrastructure system that delivers a fundamental service for local residents. These state dollars will enable this project to enhance the capability of a local infrastructure asset while also improving the water quality in local streams.”
The wastewater treatment plant is hydraulically overloaded, leading untreated or inadequately treated sewage to seep into local waterways. The authority is under a consent order with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to address permit violations. The upgrade will enhance treatment capacity to address the overload problem.
The project will increase the wastewater treatment plant’s capacity from 350,000 gallons per day to 500,000 gallons per day.
“This is a massive investment in local infrastructure and will resolve a long-standing problem for the Conyngham-Sugarloaf Joint Municipal Authority, which serves more than 1,200 residential customers. The low-interest loan from PENNVEST is in addition to a previous H2O PA grant that Sen. Culver and I helped to secure. The combination of the loan and grant will finally allow the authority to expand capacity at its overloaded plant and remedy outstanding violations for discharges into local waterways.”
The project calls for additional upgrades, including the installation of a new influent pump station, screening facility, grit removal system, control building, chemical feed systems, piping and valves, ultraviolet disinfection system, plant water system, effluent flow meter, supervisory control and data acquisition instrumentation, and necessary site work.
The $12.75 million in state funding for the project will come in the form of a 20-year, low interest loan, with a 1% interest rate for the first five years that increases to 1.743% in year six until the loan is repaid. The low-interest loan is estimated to provide the grant equivalent of more than $3.8 million.
Funding for the project is being provided through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). PENNVEST is an independent state agency that provides financial assistance for sewer, stormwater and drinking water projects in communities across the commonwealth.
Culver Media Contact: Betsy Reichenbach
717-787-8928
Cabell Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717-260-6474