April 20, 2009
Erie, PA April 20, 2009 – PENNVEST, Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority announced today they have awarded Erie Water Works $5,499,900 to fund the McKean Township and Borough Water Main Extension Project. Of those dollars, $4,736,829 will come in the form of a grant from PENNVEST and $713,161 will come as a 1% low interest 20 year loan.
Grants and loan applications through PENNVEST are evaluated and ranked by PENNVEST, Department of Environmental Protection and Department of Community and Economic Development personnel. Applications are evaluated based on advancements in public health and safety, economic impact and the environmental and quality of life impact.
Erie Water Works CEO Paul Vojtek notes that this is a monumental day for the Erie Water Works. It marks the first time the Erie Water Works has been awarded a grant of this size. Vojtek said, “I would like to personally thank and congratulate the staff at Erie Water Works who have truly been the force behind this effort. I’d also like to thank the residents of McKean for their trust in our organization.”
The McKean project offers significant advancements in all three areas of public health and safety, economic impact and environmental and quality of life. There is long-standing documented evidence of both chemical and bacteriological contamination of the groundwater that serves many of the residences and businesses of McKean Township and Borough. Further reports have shown a high percentage of water outages of 48 hours or more. Erie Water Works will bring a safe and reliable public water supply to McKean Township and Borough. By delivering water at a consistent quantity (volume) and pressure, the project will also allow new businesses to start and existing businesses to expand. The Erie Water Works has already received commitments from various companies stating that this expansion will allow them to create new jobs.
According to Vojtek, the number of open parcels zoned business or industrial in McKean Township displays a great potential for growth now that the area will have a reliable source of water. Economic stimulus will be created as a result through employment of construction crews and jobs created by new or expanded businesses.
Richard Wasielewski, Erie Water Works Chairman of the Board commented, “This is the most significant investment by the Commonwealth in my fifty years of involvement with the Erie Water Works. This is a proud day for the board, the staff and our customers.”
The McKean Township and Borough Water Main Extension Project consists of the extension of public water service by the installation of water mains in a two-phased project. Phase One started in December of 2007 and was substantially completed by October of 2008. This phase added approximately 13,200 feet of 12-inch water main and approximately 8,720 feet of 8-inch water main. Phase Two is currently underway and the Erie Water Works expects completion by the end of September 2009 with final restoration to occur in the fall of 2009. Phase Two will include an additional 18,500 feet of 12-inch main and approximately 8,000 feet of 8-inch main.
The Erie Water Works assumed operations of the Erie Water Systems in 1992. The Water Works Board is an independent organization whose goal is to rehabilitate the water system for the Erie region while providing service at an affordable cost. Working together to make a difference, Water Works employees stand by the community they work for and stand by our mission statement, “To guarantee a continuous, uninterrupted, reasonably priced supply of quality water to its customers that assures public health while promoting stability and future development.”
<< Back to News