Mahanoy Twp. Authority, Schuylkill Municipal Authority exploring $4M interconnection project
MAHANOY CITY – Two water authorities in our area are exploring a project that would connect their two systems, providing both resiliency and a potential revenue source.
James Rhoades, Jr., of Alfred Benesch and Co., Mahanoy Township Authority’s engineer, told the board Wednesday that a meeting is scheduled next week to begin discussions and the design process for the project.
The Schuylkill County Municipal Authority (SCMA) in recent years installed infrastructure along the Morea Road to service Morea, New Boston, and the under-construction Mahanoy Business Park.
The Mahanoy Township Authority (MTA) is the water authority which serves Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, and surrounding areas.
Rhoades said the project would be beneficial to both authorities, allowing SCMA to access MTA’s water sources atop Locust Mountain above Mahanoy City and at Lofty, while also providing resiliency for MTA in case of drought.
He said drought contingency plans were implemented because of low water levels while the Lofty Dam was down for rehabilitation, which prompted led to the idea. He said the SCMA was also seeking water sources for the Mahanoy Business Park.
The interconnection would provide an additional source of revenue for MTA as well, Rhoades said, as SCMA would purchase a minimum amount of water per year.
Rhoades said SCMA has applied for a federal grant to fund the project.
In other business, Joseph Fegley, general manager, provided an update on the purchase of two trucks for the authority.
He said the authority is purchasing a Ford F-150 and Ford F-250 using a $58,800 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as a $50,000 low-cost loan from the same. The total cost of the two trucks is about $117,000.
The authority approved Wednesday a motion to contribute $11,000 to the purchase, to cover the excess cost.
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