Burns announces $3.5 million Pennvest loan for water plant upgrade
Ebensburg facility improvements to ensure safe drinking water
Rep. Frank Burns April 20, 2016 | 11:17 AM
EBENSBURG, April 20 – An Ebensburg water treatment plant operated by the Nanty Glo Water Authority is receiving a $3.5 million, low-interest state loan for significant upgrades, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, announced today.
Burns said the plant is at the end of its useful life and the 20-year loan, awarded by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, will help lower maintenance costs and improve water quality.
“This Pennvest project will bring the plant into compliance with Safe Drinking Water Act regulations, which is of utmost importance to the health and safety of residents, as well as create 10 construction-related jobs,” Burns said. “As the national controversy over lead in the water of Flint, Michigan demonstrates, we can never take safe drinking water for granted.”
Technically speaking, Burns said the plant will benefit from a new, dual-unit, 800-gallons-per-minute upflow clarifier/filtration system; a backwash water supply pump station, waste equalization tank and plate settler; a reclaim water meter and pit; an on-site shallow injection well/absorption bed; a plate settler overflow; and minor repairs and maintenance to Williams Run Dam.
The water system serves 1,604 medium- and low-income households, and is the bulk water supplier for Jackson Township.
The interest rate on the loan is 1 percent for the first five years, rising to 1.72 percent for the remaining 15.