EMPORIUM — The Cameron County Commissioners considered requests for Act 13 funding from the Driftwood Borough Water Authority and other local entities during their regular meeting held Thursday.
Members of Driftwood Borough Council attended the meeting to advocate for their need for funding through unconventional well drilling fees in order to make necessary repairs and upgrades to the water system, which has struggled financially in recent years.
Councilman Joe Williams said the $44,000 request will be used to test the location of two new shallow wells that are needed in order to supply consistent, high-quality water to the 120 units served by the water system.
“Our goal is for the system to be more self-sustaining. The hydro geologist … has determined that drilling two shallow wells in the Nanny Run vicinity is needed to improve water quality,” Williams said. “We need a more consistent water source and for the system to be more sustainable and less costly.”
Officials said approximately $64,000 in funding has already been secured for the $108,000 project. The water company has also begun other processes to make the system financially stable and open up opportunities for loans and grants in the future. The actual drilling of the two wells, if the locations pass necessary tests, will be around $500,000.
Rates have been increased on residents from $20 per month to $35 per month — a 75 percent increase — which will bring Driftwood water closer to being able to borrow money from sources such as PENNVEST.
Income surveys will begin soon, and if the outcomes are favorable, the borough could get additional funding through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program.
Currently, water comes from the Nanny Run reservoir, a surface water source. In drought years, this source dries up and the borough is forced to draw water from Well #3, a deep well with low water quality containing high concentrations of iron, heavy metals and other undesirable substances.
Treatment costs are expensive for both Nanny Run and Well #3. Costs could be brought down significantly if the new wells are drilled.
Driftwood Borough Council is asking all residents to participate in the income survey in order to get an accurate picture of the borough for use in securing funding. Seasonal residence owners are part of the survey, as well, which is believed to skew income numbers when enough year-round residents opt not to participate.
The survey will begin soon, and council will mail out notices and go door-to-door to alert residents to the importance of the study.
Meanwhile, the commissioners tabled a request from Driftwood Borough Council and two other requests received from the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) of Elk and Cameron counties and the Cameron County Recreational Board pending review of the proposals. DAV did not submit a dollar amount requested, and the recreation board submitted three bids submitted for replacement of the roof at Memorial Hall.
In other news, the 100-mile Yard Sale will be held this weekend. The Driftwood Senior Center will be open through the event with food, vendors and public restrooms available.
The next commissioners meeting will be held at noon Aug. 6 at the courthouse in Emporium.
