Capital Region Water considering $9 million land deal
Photo by Ben Allen/witf
(Harrisburg) — Under a proposed deal, a midstate water utility could get $9 million, and more than 8,000 acres near its Dauphin County reservoir will be preserved.
Fort Indiantown Gap has offered to use federal funds to put the land near Dehart Reservoir into what’s known as a conservation easement.
It’s used as drinking water in Harrisburg and parts of four Dauphin County municipalities.
Capital Region Water CEO Shannon Williams says she can’t come up with a negative to the deal.
“I don’t like to sound overly idealistic in this, but we really have asked the hard questions and tried to find any of those hidden issues that may cause us heartburn,” says Williams.
“I’ve been asking everybody around me to try to, let’s ask those questions, let’s poke holes in this process, let’s find areas that are the negative.”
Williams says the money could help improve Capital Region Water’s infrastructure or keep rates at current levels.
The water utility would get the money, plus the right to make changes to the site if needed.
Two conservation groups would be responsible for preserving the property.
Public comments can be made at Capital Region Water’s website until April 8th.
Its board is set to vote on the deal next month.
This post has been corrected to note that the deal would be for a conservation easement, not a land sale.
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