HARRISBURG — Smethport and Driftwood boroughs will each receive grants from the state for public water projects, state Rep. Martin Causer and state Sen. Joe Scarnati announced Wednesday.
The Borough of Smethport Authority was awarded a grant of $100,000 toward relocation and replacement of two cast-iron water lines that are contributing to poor water quality for customers at the extreme end of the system along Route 59 in Keating Township.
Causer’s office indicates the lines were installed when the area received its water from an upstream reservoir; however, the current water supply comes from town wells and the existing lines are oversized for the volume of water used.
According to authority officials, in addition to poor water quality, there have been frequent breaks on the lines, low transmission capacity and a high amount of water unaccounted for.
“These grants represent an important investment in ensuring a safe and reliable source of water for the residents of these communities,” Causer said. “I was pleased to support this much-needed funding.”
The grants were awarded through the Commonwealth Financing Authority and its Small Water and Sewer Grants program.
Driftwood Borough was awarded $203,965 to create a new groundwater source of potable water by reconstructing the filter plant well in Nanny Run to meet public water supply standards. The project will also include new filtering sand for the existing three filter beds located at the slow sand filtration plant.
The system, which serves approximately 120 people in the borough and a portion of Gibson Township, is currently supplied by a surface water source and reservoir, which is susceptible to drought conditions, and is treated at a slow sand filtration plant. The current backup well is not suitable as a drinking water source.
“I commend our local boroughs and city for seeking out support and receiving these substantial grants,” Scarnati said. “I am extremely pleased to announce that three projects in our region have received state funding for important public water improvements to better serve area residents and businesses.”
