|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
|
State Rep.
Ted Harhai |
|
Harhai says Pennvest grant'loan combo means Arona borough gets sewers
HARRISBURG, July 21 – State Rep. Ted Harhai, D-Fayette/Westmoreland, today announced that the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority has approved a combination grant and loan for the borough of Arona that will bring sanitary sewer service to borough residents.
Pennvest will provide a grant of more than $1.8 million to Arona in addition to a low-interest loan of $271,376.
The total cost of the project is just over $2.6 million. In addition to the Pennvest funding, a Westmoreland County Community Development Block Grant will provide the additional $500,000.
Construction will include installation of 17,500 feet of 8-inch gravity sewer lines and 6-inch laterals to each residence.
Harhai said the substantial grant was essential to the project because paying it back as a loan would have meant sewer rates beyond the means of many residents.
"These sewer lines are desperately needed to protect public health in Arona," said Harhai. "More than half of the existing on-lot septic systems are not working properly and some residences still discharge directly into Little Sewickley Creek, which is certainly not good for people or aquatic life.
"Eliminating this sort of situation is a top priority if we wish to clean up Pennsylvania's waterways, so I'm really glad to see this solution in Arona."
The sewage from the Arona system will be transported to the Hempfield Township Municipal Authority for treatment.