State College, PA – June 25, 2026
On Wednesday June 24, CP Engineers, in partnership with the Port Royal Municipal Authority hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Port Royal Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project. The expected improvements will eliminate sanitary sewer overflows into the Juniata River, which would end one of the last discharges of untreated sanitary sewage in the state of Pennsylvania. These important upgrades represent a transformational step forward for the community as they help the environment and quality of life along the river.
The improvements will feature two important projects made possible through federal and state funding:
Project 1: UV Disinfection Upgrade
Funded through a $500,000 federal earmark championed by U.S. Senator John Fetterman, this project modernizes the disinfection process at the Port Royal WWTP. The upgrade replaces two chemical addition systems – chlorine and sulfur dioxide (used for dechlorination) – with an ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system. This eliminates the need for hazardous chemical handling at the facility while improving treatment reliability and environmental outcomes.
Project 2: Pump Station Expansion & SSO Elimination
Funded through a $3.3 million PennVEST State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan, this is the larger and more consequential of the two projects. Its primary goal is the permanent elimination of Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) to the Juniata River – one of the last known instances of direct discharge of untreated sanitary sewage to a waterway in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
The groundbreaking ceremony was a wonderful celebration which brought together Senator Fetterman’s office, PennVEST, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, County Commissioners, State Senator representatives, the Port Royal Municipal Authority and employees from CP Engineers.
Click here to learn more about this event from Juniata County Fox43 News:
https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/juniata-county/officials-host-groundbreaking-ceremony-port-royal-wastewater-treatment-plant-improvement-project/521-56eaddee-dfaf-478e-92bc-045f4d130c12
