$1M grant boosts Dallas Area Municipal Authority’s wastewater infrastructure project

SHAVERTOWN, LUZERNE CO. (WOLF) — A major investment is coming to strengthen wastewater service across the Back Mountain region.

Congressman Rob Bresnahan announced $1 million in federal funding to help the Dallas Area Municipal Authority expand its system with a new backup pipeline beneath the Susquehanna River.

The Dallas Area Municipal Authority provides sewer, trash, recycling, and yard waste services to communities throughout the Back Mountain region of Luzerne County.

Congressman Bresnahan and Dallas Area Municipal Authority Executive Director Jim Reino said the funding marks the first step toward modernizing the region's aging wastewater system. Reino said it's also the first time the authority has received federal support for critical infrastructure upgrades.

“This funding will help modernize critical sewer infrastructure, improve the system’s long-term reliability, and ensure that the authority can continue providing dependable service for years to come,” said Bresnahan.

“This is a major step forward. There are a lot of large lines that we have that go from Harveys Lake all the way down to Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority. And those all require work. And this grant will enable us to take those major lines and get them repaired using third-party contractors, which is something that we would never have been able to do without the help of this grant,” said Reino.

Reino said the nearly 50-year-old wastewater system is overdue for upgrades, and this funding will help replace infrastructure with more dependable piping.

“The system is approximately 50 years old. One of the challenges we have is that we were so progressive at the time, we were ahead of the all the new piping structures that came into play. So, a lot of the problems we're having now is because of the type of pipes that are in the ground. We have to get those taken care of. You’re not allowed to have any stormwater coming into the sewer lines, that’s part of DEP’s requirements,” said Reino.

Reino said the project will do more than repair the system, it will provide lasting benefits.

“This is a project that belongs to the people. It's going to help the individual ratepayers. It's going to help the environment. It's going to help all of the local communities. So, it's very important for us to get this project done,” said Reino.

The Dallas Area Municipal Authority primarily serves communities in Dallas Borough, Dallas Township, and Kingston Township.