More than $19 million in low-interest Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) loans will benefit two major water infrastructure projects in McKean County.
Bradford City Water Authority will receive a $4.1 million loan to replace all existing water meters with new meters capable of remote data transmission. The change is expected to save the authority approximately $150,000 in operational costs each year.
Pennsylvania American Water Co. will receive a $15.2 million loan to address issues at the Kinzua Road wastewater treatment plant. Most of the equipment at the plant, which was built in the 1990s, is at the end of its useful life, resulting in excess effluent levels.
The funding was announced Wednesday by Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, and Sen. Cris Dush, R-Brookville.
Since its inception in 1988, PENNVEST has funded sewer, stormwater and drinking water projects across the commonwealth. PENNVEST funds come from federal funding and prior bond issues by the state, as well as proceeds from Act 13 of 2012, the Marcellus Shale Impact Fee.
Bradford City Water Authority Executive Director Steve Disney said, “We’re very excited to learn of this funding approval from PENNVEST.
“Improving and upgrading systems and taking advantage of technology is very important to our business and our community,” Disney said. “We appreciate the efforts of Rep. Martin Causer and Sen. Cris Dush in securing and providing the necessary funds to the Bradford City Water Authority for this project.”
Disney explained the loan will cover the entire cost of the proposed project, which includes replacing all of the authority’s aging water meters.
“The average age of our water meters is 27 years,” he noted. “The meter project will provide efficiency improvements transitioning from a drive-by system to an advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) system.
“AMI is an integrated, fixed-network system that enables two-way communication between utilities and customers. The system collects, stores and analyzes water consumption data, providing the authority with the ability to monitor water usage in real time.”
Causer said, “Efficient, effective and environmentally sound water and wastewater treatment systems are important to the health and safety of our residents. I support investments like these in our infrastructure systems to improve quality of life in our communities.”
“Both of these low-interest loans are proactive initiatives to ensure the safety and overall quality of McKean County’s water supply,” said Dush. “I’m grateful that PENNVEST exists to cost-effectively finance these types of projects across the Commonwealth. I’m even more grateful that local taxpayers and those living on fixed incomes will not have to bear the enormous price tag of these critical water monitoring and wastewater treatment upgrades.”
Serving 5,384 households in the City of Bradford as well as Foster, Bradford and Lafayette townships, Bradford City Water Authority also provides bulk service to Lewis Run Borough.
For Pennsylvania American Water Co., which serves 90,193 residential customers, this project impacts 1,511 households in Kane and 328 households in Wetmore Township. The interest rate on the loans is 1% for the first five years, and 1.743% for year six through maturity.
