Aug. 17, 2020
HARRISBURG – Rep. Joe Emrick (R-Northampton) announced today that Stockertown Borough will receive a $900,000 grant to help construct a wastewater connection to Forks Township in Northampton County. Funding for this project was awarded through the H2O PA Water Supply, Sewer and Storm Water Program.
“I am pleased to see Stockertown Borough benefit from this funding which has been in the works for quite some time,” said Emrick. “The grant allows for continued affordable housing for current residents and will eliminate harmful discharges into the Bushkill Creek. This provides a tremendous benefit in so many ways to the local area.”
The wastewater interceptor, which is approximately 4,100 linear feet, will act as an interconnection between the Stockertown Borough collection and conveyance system and the Forks Township collection and conveyance system. This will allow Stockertown Borough to abandon their existing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and eliminate the discharge going into the Bushkill Creek, which is part of a high-quality watershed. This project was outlined in an Act 537 plan that was completed in 2018.
“I am so excited with the outcome of this grant award, as a significant portion of our population is on a fixed income and the amount of our grant will help hold down yearly costs to our residents,” said Stockertown Borough Council President Amy Richard. “The total project is estimated to be $3.2 million, which includes $780,000 of the original plant’s debt service. Our plant currently discharges into the Little Bushkill Creek, which is classified as a high-quality freshwater fishery. This project (the connection to Easton’s sewer system and the decommissioning of our plant) will eliminate the year-over-year discharge violations imposed by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).”
Richards added, “Additionally, there is the development potential for three parcels of property within the borough. The completion of this project will lift our sewer moratorium and make capacity purchase available to developers. Not to mention, there are bordering communities that are exploring the feasibility of connecting to our system in the future. I prayed for a good outcome for our Borough and this is my answer.”
H2O PA was established by the General Assembly and is administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The program provides for single-year and multi-year grants for the construction of drinking water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer projects; the construction or renovation of flood control projects; and the repair or rehabilitation of high-hazard unsafe dams.
Today’s funding was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, an independent agency that holds fiduciary responsibility over the funding of programs and investments in Pennsylvania’s economic growth.
Questions about this or any legislative issue should be directed to Emrick’s district office at (610) 588-8011 or (610) 746-5090.
Representative Joe Emrick
137th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Abby Krueger
717.260.6617
akrueger@pahousegop.com
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