South Chester Today

On December 19, 2023, Rep. John Lawrence (R-West Grove) announced the approval of $1.1 million in state grants for municipal water infrastructure improvements in southern Chester County. Lawrence emphasized the importance of regular upgrades to municipal water infrastructure in order to provide quality service to the community while keeping rates reasonable.

The grants have been awarded to two boroughs in the area. Oxford Borough will receive a $600,000 state grant to update the metering infrastructure across its municipal water system. West Grove Borough, on the other hand, will receive a $500,000 state grant to replace a failing municipal water main adjacent to East Evergreen Street.

Both Oxford and West Grove have been actively working on upgrading their municipal water systems to enhance service for residents and business owners. Kathryn Cloyd, the President of Oxford Borough Council, expressed her gratitude for the grant, stating, "In order for the borough to ensure the sustainability of our municipal water system, we must make strategic investments into critical infrastructure. This grant will enable us to improve efficiency and customer service with the installation of Advanced Metering. Improved efficiency saves tax dollars and time."

Greg McCummings, the Borough Manager of West Grove, also expressed his appreciation for the grant, highlighting the specific improvements that will be made. He said, "The funding will be used to replace the undersized 4-inch cast iron water main in the northeast corner of the borough with a larger ductile iron concrete lined water line. Two additional fire hydrants will be added in the area, improving fire protection and safety along with improving the reliability of the borough’s water distribution system for future generations."

Lawrence, who grew up in southern Chester County, acknowledged the historical lack of attention from Harrisburg towards the area but assured that he has made it a priority to change that. He expressed his commitment to working with local municipalities and other elected officials to ensure that the community is not forgotten when it comes to state funding. Lawrence stated, "These dollars will be put to good use to improve infrastructure both for today and the next generation."

With these grants, Oxford and West Grove can make significant progress in upgrading their municipal water systems, enhancing efficiency, customer service, and safety for their residents. The financial support from the Commonwealth Financing Authority is a testament to the efforts of the local municipalities and their elected officials in securing state funding for the betterment of the community.

Click this link to access more information: https://www.replawrence.com/News/33344/Press-Releases/Grants-Approved-for-Local-Municipal-Water-Projects,-Lawrence-Says-