The Tamaqua Borough Authority was recently awarded $20 million from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to make significant upgrades to the borough’s wastewater treatment plant.

Of the total, more $12.2 million was awarded as a grant, while the remaining $7.8 million is a low-interest loan.

The funds will be used to help the plant operate more efficiently by replacing aging and outdated equipment. The planned upgrades will also prevent sewage overflows from polluting the adjacent Little Schuylkill River.

“We are extremely pleased with this grant funding from PENNVEST,” said Brian Connely, president of Tamaqua Borough Council. “We have been working hard over the last few years to secure this type of grant to reduce the cost to our taxpayers and bring our operations up to date. For a community our size, this is a major project and cost to our taxpayers. It’s a relief that a major financial burden received this type of assistance.”

Borough officials worked with Sen. Dave Argall, R-29, and Rep. Jamie Barton, R-124, to secure the highly competitive funding.

“Awards like this do not just happen overnight. Our borough authority, borough staff, Sen. Argall’s office, Rep. Barton’s office, and our engineers have worked to put this project together in hopes of getting to where we are today,” Connely said. “We thank everyone for their efforts and look forward to moving forward with this project.”

The planned improvements to the wastewater treatment plant include constructing a new headworks building, rehabilitating the primary and secondary clarifiers and the aeration tanks, converting two aeration tanks to swing equalization basins, installing a new flash mix tank and a new magnesium hydroxide system, replacing the aeration blowers, and replacing the chlorine gas system with sodium hypochlorite disinfection.

“This massive investment in Tamaqua’s infrastructure is not just a win for the thousands of residents who are served by the Tamaqua Borough Authority,” Argall said. “It will support local efforts to breathe new life into the area and keep local waterways clean.”

“The improvements to the wastewater treatment plant are needed and necessary, but they aren’t cheap,” Barton added. “This funding coming back to Tamaqua will help the borough authority finish this important project without breaking the bank.”