Westmoreland Authority Receives $1.6 Million Loan

Funding to help expand water service in Murrysville, Penn Township

The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County will receive $1,617,500 in state financing to cover the costs to expand water service in Murrysville and Penn Township, according to Senator Don White, R-41st District, and Senator Bob Regola, R-39th District.

The low-interest loan was awarded today by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), according to Senator White, a member of the PENNVEST board who actively worked on behalf of the Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County to secure the financing.

"This is an important project and community leaders urged me to do whatever I could to help lock in this funding," Senator White said. "This water service expansion is essential to correct a situation involving contaminated well water that poses a potential public safety hazard for a number of local residents. When I found out the extent of the problem, it became a top priority for me to help the Municipal Water Authority secure this financing and I am pleased that we were successful in that endeavor."

"I applaud PENNVEST for providing this loan and Don White for his efforts in securing it," Senator Regola said. "This is an important investment in the community. By improving the quality of the water, this project improves the quality of life for many families in the area."

The PENNVEST funding will cover the costs to construct 33,640 linear feet of water lines in Mamont Road, Hilty Road, Peachtree Court, Saltsburg Road, Christy Road, Eagles Lane and Lasher Court areas of Murrysville and the Dry Dam Road area of Penn Township.

Senator White's District includes Murrysville and Senator Regola represents Penn Township. The legislators said the project will provide a safe and reliable water distribution system for 227 existing homes in Murrysville and Penn Township once it is completed.

The Department of Environmental Protection determined that 65 percent of the existing private wells in the area had coliform bacteria and numerous areas have other unacceptable water quality issues.