3 suburban counties to get piece of $82M investment in water infrastructure projects

Three suburban Philadelphia counties are among the 12 municipalities around the state to receive a piece of the $81.9 million investment in water infrastructure systems.

Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday Montgomery County received a $10 million grant dedicated to the Horsham Water and Sewer Authority.

The funds are intended to aid Horsham residents impacted by chemical run-off from the former Naval Air Station-Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove. At least one nearby homeowner has filed a lawsuit against the Navy over water contamination. The Governor's Office said the $10 million will be used to install new water distribution lines and other connections for Horsham neighbors with private wells that have been contaminated. The funds will also be put towards treatment systems for five existing drinking water wells.

Wolf has previously taken steps to address water contamination concerns of communities in eastern Montgomery County and Central Bucks County, a long-standing issue for the suburban towns. He wrote a letter to military officials last summer urging them to provide funding to blood test area residents. Other Pennsylvania lawmakers, and even Erin Brockovich, have called for action over the contaminated wells in the past.

In Delaware County, the Chester City Stormwater Authority received a $1 million grant for the design of green infrastructure that will eventually be installed in Chester to reduce the amount of heavy metals found in the Delaware River, and Ridley and Chester creeks.

Jacob Fisher, a Chester County farmer, in conjunction with the Chester County Conservation District, is the recipient of $974,323 grant. The money will allow for the construction of manure storage facilities, again with the aim of reducing run-off during wet weather.

Of the total $81.9 million in funding – which comes from the state and Pennsylvania

Infrastructure Investment Authority, or PENNVEST, about $21.2 million was set aside for grants while the remainder was doled out as loans.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal