HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) today awarded the borough’s municipal authority with a state grant of $4.4 million, Rep. Donna Oberlander (R-Clarion/Armstrong/Forest) and Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Butler/Clarion/Forest/Venango/Warren) announced.

The grant will help ensure that residents of St. Petersburg have clean and safe water for years to come, according to the release.

“Officials in St. Petersburg have been working on a new water plant for almost two years now, and I appreciate them seeking out state sources of financing in order to make the project more affordable for its residents and customers,” Oberlander said. “The availability of clean and safe water is important not only from a public health standpoint but also for fire protection and economic development.”

The project includes the installation of a 100-gallon-per-minute dual train packaged water treatment plant; a new treatment building located on the other side of the raw water reservoir; replacement of approximately 7,400 feet of waterline; 1,550 feet of waterline to eliminate dead ends; and replacement of 64 service connections and eight fire hydrants.

“The project will replace a deteriorating 50-year-old water treatment plant and a substantial number of waterlines in the community, many of which have had leakage problems,” Hutchinson said. “This PENNVEST funding will help the authority to address those issue, meet state regulations and ease the financial burden that otherwise would have fallen on ratepayers.”

The plant’s existing water treatment plant was built in 1971.