WEST PITTSTON -- West Pittston will receive a $1.65 million low-interest loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to replace undersized and misaligned sewer lines.

The loan will help the borough install 3,650 feet of 18-inch sewer pipe and 2,000 feet of storm sewer pipe, manholes, inlets and lateral pipes on Susquehanna and York Avenues and Park Street. It also will help the borough flush and inspect the system with a video camera to check for damaged sewer lines. Any major damages found will also be repaired.

Sewage and storm water collection lines are combined in the community, and that has caused raw sewage to back up into basements. It also has resulted in street flooding.

This loan will help West Pittston modernize its sewage and storm water collection systems, and in doing so, protect the health of residents as well as the environment, said State Rep. Phyllis Mundy, D-Kingston. I'm pleased that the state is aiding this important project.

The 20-year loan, which was approved by the Pennvest Board of Directors, will carry an interest rate of 1 percent for the first five years, and 1.868 percent for the final 15 years.

�??If this project was left unaddressed, there would have been serious public health and environmental consequences down the road caused by the discharge of raw sewage into basements, streets and the Susquehanna River,�?� said state Sen. John Yudichak, D-Plymouth Township. �??This project is among the top priorities for West Pittston Borough and I thank the Pennvest board for recognizing the urgency of this project and making this low-interest loan available.�?�

Mundy and Yudichak estimated the project is expected to create 20 construction jobs.

�??This is a very important project for the public health and environmental health of West Pittston,�?� West Pittston Mayor Tony Denisco added. The project is necessary to bring this part of the sewer system into compliance with state plumbing and environmental codes.