The Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority Board this week approved a $993,340 state loan for Slatington Borough to complete its water meter modernization project.

The borough’s current water meters were installed in 1985 and are experiencing multiple reading failures each month They also have no leak detection technology.

To remedy the situation, the borough’s modernization project would consist of purchasing and installing 1,409 water meters accompanied by an enhanced data collection system to streamline the meter reading and billing operations and includes a smart point module transceiver, a base station and a meter reading tablet.

“I’m glad to see the Slatington Borough was able to secure this critical assistance,” said state Sen. Jarrett Coleman. “This investment brings the borough’s outdated meter system into the 21st century — delivering new, efficient system equipment while also improving customer service response and providing accurate billing for the households it services.”

The existing system currently serves 1,373 households in Slatington Borough.

PENNVEST is a financing authority that provides low-cost financial assistance to address water, wastewater, stormwater and nonpoint source pollution problems that impact public health, safety, the environment, regulatory compliance and economic development.