Martinsburg water system gets $11 million in state funding

Municipal authority receives money for upgrades to infrastructure

The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority awarded the Martinsburg Municipal Authority $11 million in grants and loans Wednesday for a new water tank, refurbishment of its existing tank and replacement of pipes.

The 300,000-gallon water tank will sit near the Altoona-Blair County Airport, according to Martinsburg Borough manager Rich Brantner Jr.

Because they recently found out that they received the award, he said the borough will put out bids this fall and start the project in late winter or early spring.

Having a water tank on the airport premises will significantly help out the business, especially if the main waterline breaks, he said.

And with two water tanks, he said both sides of the community can experience better distribution flow and have a backup tank if one fails.

Their current one-million-gallon water tank dates to the 1990s and is on the opposite side of town at Lock Mountain, so having an extra water tank will allow the main water tank to be refurbished and eventually put back on the line, he said.

Grants like these allow small boroughs to update their infrastructure, as projects become more expensive over time, Brantner said.

"Every grant and loan we get keeps it in good shape," he said.

State Rep. Scott Barger, R-Blair, said access to safe, clean drinking water is essential to Pennsylvania communities.

"This investment will help local leaders strengthen critical infrastructure while keeping costs manageable for taxpayers and water customers," Barger said.

Martinsburg will receive nearly $5.2 million in grants and $5.9 million in low-interest loans, according to a news release.

Information supplied by Gov. Josh Shapiro's office states that in addition to the new water storage tank, the project includes rehabilitation of an existing water tank, replacement of 1,700 feet of existing 4-inch cast iron water main pipe with 6-inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, installation of a granular-activated carbon system for PFAS removal, and expansion of the existing water treatment building.

Also, with the installation of 4,000 feet of transmission main, 3,500 feet of 12-inch PVC waterline, 200 feet of boring under state roadway and 3,000 feet of trench restoration, all four of the Authority's wells will be rerouted so that they enter the new GAC treatment building. Upon completion of this project, a source of a known emerging contaminant will be removed from the public water supply and system pressures and water storage capabilities will be increased.

Cambria County

In Cambria County, the Nanty Glo Water Authority received a $7.2 million state grant for a critical water project, said state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria.

The grant will allow the authority to make upgrades to its filtration plant, including the installation of an additional filter and rebuilding of two existing filters to increase the capacity of the plant.

"Communities like Nanty Glo depend on this type of state funding, so I'm fully supportive of it," Burns said. "I'm very happy to see this funding come home for these much-needed upgrades to Nanty Glo Water Authority's filtration plant."

In a news release, Burns said the grant will also help hold down user fees -- without it, fees would be expected to increase by an additional 69%.

As listed in the project outline supplied by the governor's office, the project includes the installation of an additional filter and restoration of the two existing filters to increase the capacity of the plant. Also to be installed are an emergency shutdown valve, an additional backwash tank, and a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System discharge for wastewater. Improvements will be made to the current treatment building, and a new garage will be constructed to provide storage space that will no longer be available in the treatment building. These upgrades will improve water quality, increase efficiency of the facility, and allow the system to comply with safe drinking water regulations.

Centre County

In Centre County, Madisonburg Water Works received an $875,000 grant for upgrades to the water treatment facility. The project will include installation of PVC piping in a serpentine configuration after the existing clearwell and prior to the existing water storage tank to allow additional chlorine contact time. A chemical vault will be constructed before the storage tank to accommodate a new chlorine analyzer and sample tap, and two valves will be installed after the chemical vault to create a blowoff and entry point shutdown before the storage tank. Upgrades will also be made to the electrical and supervisory control and data acquisition systems to serve the new chlorine analyzer.

The completed project will ensure that water is effectively treated, and service reliability will be increased for system users.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.