(Harrisburg) -- The state is sending some $84 million in low-interest loans and grants to eight non-point source, drinking water and wastewater projects in five midstate counties. Governor Corbett says the money will go to projects that protect Pennsylvanians from water-borne disease as well as protect lakes and rivers. Among the awards are a more than $15 million loan to upgrade and expand the Columbia Water Company in Lancaster County to meet drinking water standards. Annville Township, Lebanon County, will use $14 million to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant to meet discharge requirements for nitrogen and phosphorpous to protect streams and the Chesapeake Bay. In Northumberland County, Furmano Foods will get a $9 million loan to upgrade and expand its wastewater-treatment facility to meet Chesapeake Bay nutrient discharge limits. The company expects to hire 36 people as a result. Other projects to benefit from the funding are:
Berks County Conservation District: Received a $764,980 loan to construct a manure solids separation system, a composting facility and a 1.7 million-gallon lagoon and cover at Kurtland Farms to reduce nutrient runoff into a nearby stream. It also received a $300,514 loan to construct a manure storage tank and a steam buffer in order to reduce nutrient runoff.
Lancaster County Conservation District: Received a $518,855 grant to construct manure storage tanks on three farms that will provide storage to eliminate the need to apply the manure to fields during the winter. It will help reducing nutrient runoff into nearby streams.
Adams Township Water Authority: Received a $700,000 loan to replace more than a mile of water distribution lines to reduce significant water losses and eliminate the use of asbestos water lines.
Mount Carmel Municipal Authority: Received a $1,508,726 loan to construct more than a mile of wastewater collection and stormwater conveyance lines in order separate the two systems. They will eliminate raw sewage discharges into Butternut and Shamokin creeks that occur during wet weather.
