HARRISBURG – The Tamaqua Borough Authority was awarded $20 million from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) today to make significant upgrades to the borough’s wastewater treatment plant. Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) and Rep. Jamie Barton (R-124) worked with borough officials to secure this highly competitive funding.
Of the $20 million, over $12.2 million was awarded as a grant, while the remaining almost $7.8 million is a low-interest loan. In addition to making the plant operate more efficiently by replacing aging and outdated equipment, the planned upgrades will prevent sewage overflows from polluting the Little Schuylkill River.
“We are extremely pleased with this grant funding from PENNVEST,” said Brian Connely, Tamaqua Borough Council President. “We have been working hard over the last few years to secure this type of grant to reduce the cost to our taxpayers and bring our operations up to date. For a community our size, this is a major project and cost to our taxpayers. It’s a relief that a major financial burden received this type of assistance.
“Awards like this do not just happen overnight. Our borough authority, borough staff, Sen. Argall’s office, Rep. Barton’s office, and our engineers have worked to put this project together in hopes of getting to where we are today. We thank everyone for their efforts and look forward to moving forward with this project.”
“This massive investment in Tamaqua’s infrastructure is not just a win for the thousands of residents who are served by the Tamaqua Borough Authority,” said Argall. “It will support local efforts to breathe new life into the area and keep local waterways clean.”
“The improvements to the wastewater treatment plant are needed and necessary, but they aren’t cheap,” Barton said. “This funding coming back to Tamaqua will help the Borough Authority finish this important project without breaking the bank.”
The planned improvements to the wastewater treatment plant include constructing a new headworks building, rehabilitating the primary and secondary clarifiers and the aeration tanks, converting two aeration tanks to swing equalization basins, installing a new flash mix tank and a new magnesium hydroxide system, replacing the aeration blowers, and replacing the chlorine gas system with sodium hypochlorite disinfection.
CONTACT: Jim Brugger (Argall)
Jake Gillespie (Barton)