Pennsylvania will loan the Northwestern Chester County Municipal Authority $12.6 million for system upgrades, state Rep. Dan Williams announced. The loan will be administered through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.

Currently, the municipal authority’s wastewater treatment system cannot reach ammonia removal limits during the winter months in accordance with the requirements of its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit, despite attempts to implement changes and improvements to treatment operations.

The loan will allow the authority to remove the aerated fixed film system from the tertiary lagoons and replace it with a new moving bed biofilm reactor system.

Upon project completion, the authority will be able to ensure proper wastewater treatment and maintain compliance. Additionally, the adequately treated wastewater, ensured by this project, will be discharged into Brandywine Creek, which is designated as a High Quality Waters stream by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

“This project will create long-term savings for the users of the Northwestern Chester County Municipal Authority as it will allow the authority to operate more efficiently,” Williams said. “In addition, the upgrades will create a more environmentally friendly system.”

The Northwestern Chester County Municipal Authority serves 723 households in Honey Brook Township and 488 households in Honey Brook Borough.

Williams represents the 74th Legislative District comprised of Atglen, Coatesville, Honey Brook Borough, Honey Brook Township, Modena, Parkesburg, Sadsbury, South Coatesville, Valley, West Caln, West Sadsbury and Districts 1, 2 and 3 of Caln in Chester County.