Berks County is set to benefit from the largest single-round investment in Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) history, as Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration announced $547.1 million in funding for 30 water-related projects across 23 counties.
Locally, the Western Berks Water Authority will receive a $1.63 million grant and a $39.42 million low-interest loan to undertake major improvements to its water treatment plant. The project represents more than $41 million in upgrades that will modernize operations and strengthen long-term reliability for thousands of residents.
Planned improvements include the construction of four dual-media gravity filters, a new one-million-gallon baffled clear well, and an upgraded service pump station with enhanced pumps, chemical rooms, and electrical systems. The project also calls for new chemical storage and feed systems, a 54,000-gallon backwash waste equalization tank, and upgrades to the plant’s electrical and SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems.
State officials said these upgrades will reduce health risks from pathogens and emerging contaminants, such as cyanotoxins, while also improving taste, odor, and clarity of drinking water. The improvements are expected to lower the risk of service disruptions and ensure system reliability for decades to come.
“Every Pennsylvanian has a constitutional right to clean air and pure water — and my Administration is investing historic resources to make sure that right is protected all across our Commonwealth,” Gov. Shapiro said in the announcement. “PENNVEST projects help communities modernize their water systems, protect public health, and create jobs.”
The PENNVEST program, which has seen an 83 percent increase in demand for water infrastructure funding over the past five years, uses a revolving loan model that allows repaid funds to be recycled into future projects. Funding sources include state voter-approved initiatives, federal programs such as the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants.
With this record-breaking investment, Berks County joins communities statewide in tackling aging infrastructure, strengthening public health protections, and building more resilient water systems.
