A ceremonial groundbreaking for the Municipal Authority of the Township of Washington’s Phase II Sewer Project in Pennsylvania marked an important day for almost 1,700 local residents. Congressman Mark Critz, officials from USDA Rural Development, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers participated in the groundbreaking.
Phase II of the sewer construction project is funded through a Rural Development American Recovery and Reinvestment Act loan administered by the Water and Environmental Program and U.S. Army Corp of Engineers funding. Phase II will provide sewer to the areas of Washington Heights, Arnold City, and Lynnwood. These areas are currently served by malfunctioning on-lot sewage systems, allowing raw or partially treated sewage to be discharged to yards, roadside ditches, roadways and nearby streams, posing a constant threat of bacterial contamination for the area residents, as well as fish, wildlife and downstream property owners.
The untreated sewage that is currently flowing into the local watersheds and the resulting health and environmental concerns will be removed with these improvements. This project is an example of how USDA Rural Development is helping to protect the environment throughout rural Pennsylvania. And, this project advances the Obama Administration’s economic recovery goals to rebuild the nation’s infrastructure by creating jobs.
To learn more about how USDA Rural Development can provide support to your community click here.
