Luzerne Times

A state grant totaling $1,784,107 has been awarded to the Lake Winola Municipal Authority in Wyoming County for the upgrade of its wastewater treatment plant in Overfield Township. The grant was approved through the Commonwealth Financing Agency (CFA) COVID-19 ARPA H2O PA Water Supply, Sanitary Sewer, and Storm Water Projects Program (H2O PA).

Sen. Lisa Baker and Rep. Tracy Pickett, who announced the grant, highlighted the importance of modern wastewater treatment capacity for smaller communities in rural areas. Sen. Baker stated, "Securing sufficient modern wastewater treatment capacity is a serious financial challenge for many smaller communities in largely rural areas. A project such as the one planned for Overfield Township helps protect the water quality in local streams, prevents public health problems, and allows for residential and commercial construction." Rep. Pickett added, "When state grants are awarded for water and sewer projects, the funding often makes it possible for our local municipalities to do critical upgrades that are difficult for ratepayers on smaller systems to afford."

The H2O PA program provides grants for the construction of drinking water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer projects. It also covers the construction or renovation of flood control projects and the repair or rehabilitation of high-hazard unsafe dams. This grant will enable the Lake Winola Municipal Authority to incorporate new technologies into their treatment plant upgrade, ensuring they can meet increasingly stringent regulations while being good stewards of the environment. Ronald Manglaviti, Chairman of the Lake Winola Municipal Authority, expressed his gratitude for the grant, saying, "This grant award is a complete game changer for our community. It will allow us to incorporate new technologies into our treatment plant upgrade which will make it possible to economically meet increasingly more stringent regulations."

The funding provided by this grant will not only benefit the community by improving water quality and preventing public health problems but will also enable residential and commercial growth while helping to keep local taxes and rates down. The Lake Winola Municipal Authority and the community it serves are thankful for the assistance of their legislators in securing this grant.

For further information, please contact:

- Jennifer Wilson (Sen. Lisa Baker)

- Andy Briggs (Rep. Tracy Pickett)

Click this link to access more information: https://www.senatorbaker.com/2023/12/20/baker-pickett-announce-1-7-million-for-wyoming-wastewater-treatment-plant-upgrade/