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Pennsylvania Gets $17.1 Million for Safe Drinking Water

Release Date: 7/6/1999
Contact Information: Donna M. Heron 215-814-5113

PHILADELPHIA -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded Pennsylvania $17.1 million to protect and improve drinking water supplies. The state will contribute $4.6 million in matching funds.

The money will fund a loan program for local drinking water systems to come into compliance with the requirements of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The loan program will be administered by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority. Projects will be chosen for funding based on environmental and technical merit.

AThis newly funded program will ensure that all Pennsylvanians continue to have safe, healthy drinking water,@ said W. Michael McCabe, EPA’s mid-Atlantic regional administrator.

Specifically, improvements to the local drinking water systems could include:

* upgrading treatment plants to meet health standards;
* extending service to customers relying on inadequate individual systems;
* eliminating leaks and inadequate pressure by replacing distribution systems;
* consolidating systems that consistently fail to meet basic health standards.