Major Investment for Foxburg Water and Sewer Authority Secured by Bashline

The Foxburg Area Water and Sewer Authority (which serves Foxburg Borough in Clarion County, Pennsylvania, along with parts of nearby areas like Richland Township) has received significant new state funding for a major water system upgrade.‘

Foxburg's Existing water tank.

As part of a $284.2 million PENNVEST (Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority) investment across 33 water, wastewater, stormwater, and related projects in 20 Pennsylvania counties, of this package, the Foxburg Area Water and Sewer Authority was awarded $5.176 million in grant and loan funding.

According to Rep. Josh Bashline (R-Clarion/Armstrong), who was instrumental in obtaining the funding, said, "the $5.176 million funding is part grant and loan funding from PENNVEST. $2,631,852 is a grant (principal forgiveness, meaning it does not require repayment), and the remainder, $2,544,148, is a loan".

Totaling roughly $5.176 million for drinking water improvements funded through the federal Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).

At an emergency meeting of the Foxburg Water Authority on February 26, 2026, the authority appointed two new board members, Saji Daniel and Russ Neff. At the meeting, they then discussed the urgency of obtaining state funding for vast improvements and upgrades to the borough’s water system in Foxburg. The board got to work filing the grant/loan applications, and letters were sent to government officials stressing the need for the upgrades. Newly elected board member Daniel stressed the importance of the help that the Water Authority had from Rep. Bashline and all the local elected officials. He, Daniel, was especially pleased with what this means for A-CV School District, the local home owners, the golf course, and the business community. The PENNVEST funding will also give confidence to new investments in the borough of Foxburg and the RiverStone Estate (Six Sense) development plans.

The project includes: Construction of a new water treatment plant built adjacent to the existing facility. It will feature four greensand filters, chemical feed systems, and related appurtenances. Replacement of an undersized existing water storage tank with a new 150,000-gallon tank. Replacement of nearly the entire distribution system, including approximately 6,500 feet of 6-inch waterline, 300 feet of 4-inch waterline, and 700 feet of 2-inch waterline, plus replacement of fire hydrants. Installation of an emergency generator at the new treatment plant.

The upgrades aim to bring the system into compliance with current water quality standards, improve operational efficiency, and reduce long-term operation and maintenance costs. This addresses aging infrastructure in a small community system that historically relied on the Allegheny River as a source (with past ownership changes dating back to the 19th century and authority formation in the late 1950s/early 1960s).

PENNVEST projects of this type typically move into design, permitting, and bidding phases following award. According to Saji Daniel, board member of the Foxburg Area Water and Sewer Authority, “He expects work on the new water system will begin in June.”