Kanjorski Announces $3.75 Million for Cleaning Up the Susquehanna River

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Congressman Paul E. Kanjorski (PA-11) today announced that he secured $3.75 million for the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority (WVSA) to correct combined sewer overflows (CSOs) which cause the discharge of untreated sewage into the Susquehanna River approximately 37 times each year during heavy rainfalls.

"Although the Susquehanna River is significantly cleaner than when I was a child, we still need to upgrade our sewer systems to ensure that only treated wastewater is discharged into the river.  These federal funds will help allow the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority to continue to reduce this primary source of pollution to the river," said Congressman Kanjorski. 

"The Susquehanna drew our ancestors to this area, and my dream is to see it as clean as it was when they settled the Wyoming Valley.  Now that we have Agnes-level protection from flooding, cleaning up the quality of the water is the next step for transforming the river from a threat into an asset," said Congressman Kanjorski.

WVSA Executive Director Fred DeSanto expressed gratitude to Congressman Kanjorski in getting the federal funding. Mr. DeSanto said that a study was done to see which CSOs were "worst-case scenarios." WVSA will work with the municipalities that are home to these worst-case CSOs because WVSA will have to separate the sewer lines from the storm lines.

Mr. DeSanto said the Sanitary Authority is now exploring various ways to get matching funds.

Congressman Kanjorski has been working closely with the Luzerne County Commissioners and the Luzerne County Flood Control Authority to ensure that the final touches of the $200 million Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Project include a beautified riverfront in the Wilkes-Barre area.  Currently under design in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Riverfront Project will include a Riverfront Plaza, a performance amphitheater, and a boat marina. 

In addition, the county is in the process of evaluating the environmental impact of a proposed inflatable dam which would maintain the water level of the river at a constant level during the summer months.  The county's study is expected to be completed sometime in 2005. 

According to a study commissioned by the WVSA, correcting those CSOs which most directly impact this area of the river will cost an estimated $28 million.

When matched with the required 45% non-federal share, the federal funds announced today total nearly one-quarter of the amount needed.  Congressman Kanjorski continues to seek the remaining funds.

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