A pair of grant awards announced by State Rep. Justin Simmons (R-131) Tuesday will help improve the public water infrastructure in Lower Saucon Township.
Lower Saucon Town Hall (FILE PHOTO)
Simmons said in a news release that nearly $710,000 in state funding for various local projects has been approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority (CFA) in Harrisburg.
The two Lower Saucon Township grants awarded through the Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Program are:
- A $100,000 grant awarded to the Lower Saucon Authority for a water pressure control and monitoring project that will help improve portions of the authority’s system located in low elevation areas. The lack of water pressure control and monitoring has resulted in high operation pressure that has caused pipe breaks. The total project cost is $324,200.
- A $50,679 grant awarded to Lower Saucon Township to replace a water line. The work will involve the replacement of 1,200 feet of aged water line that runs from the public works building at the municipal complex through Town Hall Park to the park restroom building. The total project cost is $59,623.
Coopersburg borough is also on the receiving end of grants, Simmons said.
The borough was awarded a $150,000 grant to renovate its water reservoir facility; a $209,000 project that includes replacing the reservoir’s roof and liner.
“The upgrade will lower the contamination risk and reduce the amount of wasted water through leakage loss,” according to the news release.
Coopersburg was also awarded $250,000 through the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program for the completion of the southern end of Coopersburg’s section of the Saucon Rail Trail, according to the news release.
“The half-mile trail extension will create a safe access at East Station Avenue for pedestrian, bicycle and vehicular traffic,” it said. “It will also provide a link to allow Springfield Township to extend the trail into Bucks County.”
The total cost of that project is $357,212.
The Pennsylvania Small Water and Sewer Program offers grants for small water and sewer infrastructure projects and can be used to assist with the construction, improvement, expansion or rehabilitation or repair of a water supply or sanitary sewer system.
The Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program offers grants for planning, acquisition, development, rehabilitation and repair of greenways, recreational trails, open space, parks and beautification projects. It is supported by the Marcellus Legacy Fund established by Act 13 of 2012.