Two Blair County wastewater infrastructure improvement projects received $3.6 million in loan and grant funding from the state.

The Freedom Township Water and Sewer Authority and the Bellwood Borough Authority were named as the recipients from PENNVEST in a press release from state Sen. Judy Ward, R-Blair, and state Rep. Scott Barger, R-Blair/Huntingdon.

Freedom Township will use its newly awarded $1.24 million — all loan monies — to upgrade the aging Newry Pump Station. The improvements will include replacing pumps, controls and piping, repairing the degraded wet well and installing a new generator. A bypass connection will also be added to facilitate continuous pumping in case of a “catastrophic failure,” according to the press release.

With its $2.36 million — $1.76 million in loans and roughly $608,000 in grants — Bellwood Borough aims to replace components of its sanitary sewer system. Heavy rainfall over the decades since its construction in 1936 has contributed to the deterioration of portions of its main lines.

The project will replace 3,856 feet of sewer main, laterals and 17 manholes and will also include railroad boring.

The upgrades will eliminate inflow and infiltration issues.

Both projects are scheduled to begin in May.