HARRISBURG – Sen. Pat Stefano (R-32) and Rep. Ryan Warner (R-Fayette) today announced the approval of state funding for a major water improvement project to benefit north Fayette County residents.
The North Fayette County Municipal Authority was awarded a $22.4 million low-interest loan to be repaid within 20 years. Without the loan, user fees were expected to increase by an additional 4%.
Originally constructed in the late 1800s, the treatment plant hasn’t been upgraded since the 1980s. The upgrade made possible by the loan will address aging equipment that has reached the end of its useful life. It will also improve processes to better address safety concerns.
“Newer equipment will provide more reliable treatment of drinking water for thousands of people in multiple communities. While necessary, that equipment is quite costly. I’m pleased that the loan will offer such significant savings to residents,” Stefano said. “Throughout the life of the loan, the low interest rate will provide a savings of more than $15.7 million.”
Using the funding, the authority will replace six finished water pumps with four vertical turbine pumps that have variable frequency drives, construct a building for electrical distribution for plant operations and install new emergency generators. It will also be used to construct a new backwash tank, upgrade and relocate or replace various chemical feed systems, and install a new pipeline flash reactor to provide for better mixing of the water with chemical treatment.
“Ensuring residents have access to a clean, reliable water supply is vital to maintaining public health in our communities,” Warner said. “I am pleased to work with Sen. Stefano and our local officials in support of this loan to help keep costs down while providing the necessary upgrades to the system.”
The system serves more than 15,500 residential customers in 23 municipalities of Fayette County.
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, (Stefano’s office), 717-787-7175
Patricia Hippler, (Warner’s office), 717-772-9846