HARRISBURG – A pair of loans totaling nearly $31 million will help finance upgrades to the Bellwood Water Treatment Facility and the Bellwood Dam, according to Senator Judy Ward (R-30) and Representative Jim Gregory (R-80).
A $9.9 million loan will allow for critical improvements to the water treatment facility, including new raw water metering, ozone generation and injection systems, membrane microfiltration units, ultraviolet disinfection systems and chemical feed system upgrades. The project will improve water quality and reliability for the communities served by the system.
A second loan of $21 million will support the construction of a new spillway, parapet wall, valve vault, access roads and reservoir intake structure for the dam, which has reached the end of its useful life. The dam is rated as extremely deficient, creating the risk of a water outage if it fails.
“This PENNVEST funding will help the AWA make much-needed upgrades to the Bellwood Dam and Water Treatment Facility, making the system safer and more reliable for the over 20,000 customers served by this system,” said Senator Judy Ward. “This project demonstrates the AWA’s commitment to providing safe drinking water for the future of the Altoona Area,” said Ward.
“Water is an important resource that we can’t take for granted. We’re so fortunate in Blair County to have access to clean drinking water, and I’m thankful the PENNVEST board has seen the value of investing in our water systems and protecting our access to potable water,” said Representative Jim Gregory.
The funding was awarded through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), which was created by lawmakers in 1988 to provide financial assistance to support community sewer, storm water and drinking water projects.
CONTACT: Cheryl Schriner (717) 787-5490