|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
|
State Rep.
Deberah Kula |
|
Kula announces $1million water project for Lower Tyrone, Perry townships
New water pipelines will bring clean, steady water supply to residents
HARRISBURG, Aug. 14 – State Rep. Deberah Kula, D-Fayette/Westmoreland, today announced that she has helped to secure $1 million in funding through the state Department of Community and Economic Development for a project that will provide a clean, reliable water supply to many businesses and the roughly 100 homes in Lower Tyrone and Perry townships for the first time in 14 years.
The issue was first brought to Kula's attention and that of Rep. Dwight Evans, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, in May when residents produced scores of letters and complaints during the chairman's visit to the 52nd Legislative District. Evans worked with Kula to seek funding for the project immediately.
Kula said years of strip mining have contaminated local springs and wells, which now produce water that poses potential health risks to residents. She said the project will put in place 34,800 feet of water line, a pump station and a 300,000 gallon water storage tank.
"Both townships have been strained beyond belief without a steady supply of water for public and utility use," Kula said. "Residents are fed up with turning on their faucets to discolored, smelly water and paying through the nose for bottled water and filtering systems. Local fire companies and businesses are tired of exhausting their resources to haul water."
Dawson Volunteer Fire Co. has relied entirely on neighboring companies to haul water and assist in fighting fires. As a result of the funding Kula helped secure, six fire hydrants will be put in place to boost emergency response efforts.
The lawmaker said Linden Hall Resort and Conference Center had to shut down its wells two years ago to purchase a tanker to haul better quality water for drinking, laundry and groundskeeping. The resort pays $8,000 per month for the water, an expense that hinders its ability to develop property for condominiums that could attract homebuyers to the area.
"It's important to note that a cornerstone of this year's state budget includes funding to repair outdated drinking water infrastructure throughout the Commonwealth," Kula said.
"Southwestern Pennsylvania played a vital role in producing coal for electricity, but after years of mining, our land is depleted. Projects like this one in Lower Tyrone and Perry townships are part of the solution to stimulating the state's growth by stabilizing aging infrastructure. The project will not be completed overnight, but it will happen."
Roughly 130 residents who the project will affect attended the news conference, as well as Lower Tyrone Township Supervisors Ken Frye, Shawn Ferris and George Gillespie, and Perry Township Supervisors A.J. Boni, Janet Galla and Dwayne Rose. Also in attendance were Joe Koast, representing North Fayette Municipal Water Authority, and the project's engineer, Dick Widmer of Widmer Engineering.
###cet/2008/jma l:'print'releases'tyronetwp.052