HARRISBURG – Sen. Pat Stefano (R-32) today announced the approval of more than $40 million in state assistance to make important upgrades to water and wastewater systems to benefit Cambria and Somerset county residents.
“While these projects are important for public health and safety, addressing water and wastewater system issues can come with staggering costs. I’m pleased this state funding will control costs so the improvements can be made without overburdening residents,” Stefano said.
The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Somerset was awarded a grant of more than $10.7 million and a low-interest loan of nearly $8 million. The 30-year loan has a 1% interest rate.
Approximately 42,000 feet of sanitary sewer piping will be replaced or rehabilitated, and nearly 200 manholes will be replaced. About 11,000 feet of stormwater piping and more than 11 stormwater inlets will be installed to allow for separation of illegal connections and to alleviate impacts of eliminating infiltration and inflow when separated.
The system serves nearly 2,700 residential customers with a population of more than 6,800.
The Greater Johnstown Water Authority (GJWA) will receive a $22.1 million low-interest loan to be repaid within 20 years at a 1% interest rate. The funding will help to ensure the North Fork Reservoir can sustain a probable maximum flood, which can be defined as the largest flood that could potentially occur at a particular location, estimated from probable maximum precipitation.
This will be achieved through the addition of a roller-compacted concrete spillway, a new crest wall, a spillway cap and auxiliary spillway training walls. New flood gates will be installed at the crest along with other ancillary improvements.
The Johnstown area is prone to flooding, having experienced floods in 1894, 1889, 1907, 1924, 1936 and 1977, resulting in Johnstown being referred to as “The Flood City.” The worst flood, which occurred in 1889, cost 2,200 lives.
GJWA’s North Fork Reservoir, which is a supply source for the water system, is deemed a “high hazard dam” per Pennsylvania’s Dam Safety Act. There is an agreement between GJWA and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to make improvements to the breast and spillway to ensure that the dam can retain more water during high-intensity rainfall events. The project made possible with the grant will address the agreement.
The funding was approved by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, an independent state agency providing financial assistance to fund construction of drinking water, sewer and stormwater projects in communities throughout the commonwealth.
CONTACT: Amanda Cuteri, 717-787-7175