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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Joe Petrarca
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Petrarca announces grant for Westmoreland County
HARRISBURG, May 14 – State Rep. Joe Petrarca, D-Westmoreland/Armstrong, announced today that Westmoreland County will receive $483,831 as a result of an H2O grant distributed by the Department of Community and Economic Development.
The grant will help fund the removal of the West Leechburg Reservoir Dam. The dam, which was constructed in 1950, was originally built for a public water supply; however, it is no longer needed. As it stands now, the dam is a risk to areas downstream and the borough cannot afford the necessary upgrades and repairs. It is currently on the Department of Environmental Protection’s Unsafe Dam list. The project’s total cost is $646,831. The Allegheny County Airport Authority and the West Leechburg Borough also are helping with funding.
"I’m happy to see the borough has gotten these much needed funds. The dam poses a threat to residents downstream, and if we don’t do anything about it soon it will fail, causing serious damage to homes and offices surrounding the area", said Petrarca.
The H2O PA Grant was established by the 2008 H2O PA Act by the General Assembly. It provides single and multi year grants, which do not exceed six years, to municipalities in order to help with the construction of drinking water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer projects.
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