MERCERSBURG, Pa – The Mercersburg Water Authority has secured $150,000 in grant funding to help address emergency water supply issues for local fire and rescue services.
The grant, provided through the Department of Community and Economic Development’s Local Municipal Relief Fund, will be used to cover material and operational costs, including bringing in water from outside sources during a major fire or other emergency.
The Local Municipal Relief Fund supports municipalities facing public safety emergencies or disasters that are not covered under a presidential disaster declaration. Funding may be approved when the department determines that a public safety emergency has occurred.
Concerns about the borough’s water capacity surfaced following a fire last year, when firefighters found the system unable to meet demand from hydrants. The authority has since committed to major system upgrades.
In addition to this grant, the authority recently obtained a $3.8 million low-interest loan through the state’s PennVest program to fund improvements aimed at ensuring a safe, reliable, and affordable water supply for residents.
