GREENVILLE, PA. State grant to develop water-source protection

The authority is still considering selling its water system.
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- The Greenville Municipal Authority has received a $106,000 state grant to develop programs to protect the community's drinking water sources.
The programs will focus on developing protection measures for ground water resources through wellhead protection measures, said Sen. Robert Robbins, R-50th, and Rep. Rod Wilt, R-17th, both of Greenville.
The money is coming from the Department of Environmental Protection's Source Water Protection Grant Program. Money from that program funds projects designed to protect public health and safety by ensuring the quality of drinking water provided by community water systems.
Meanwhile, the authority is still considering selling its water system, a move that could help the borough erase a lot of red ink from its budget. Greenville ran up a $1.6 million deficit in 2001 and is still working to recover financially.
The authority got two bids for the system last month and is studying them but has so far refused to reveal what those offers are.
The authority increased water rates by 15 percent in February, a move expected to generate between $150,000 and $175,000 in new revenue, all of it earmarked for capital improvements targeting its pumping system and some main lines running into Hempfield Township that are plagued with low water pressure.
The average residential consumer saw rates rise from $56.15 to $64.56 for each two-month billing period.