Multimillion Dollar Water Project Brings Clean Water To Small Community

It was a water project that was more than a decade in the making, yet despite multiple setbacks, the Swigle Mountain Road project in Cambria County is complete.


After an almost 15-year process, some residents in Jackson Township are finally using clean water to drink, wash their dishes and clean their clothes from their own house thanks to a multi-million dollar project.

Bernie Smith knew the struggle his neighbors had when it came to having and using water.

Smith said, "I have five neighbors here in August who had to haul water to supply their house they had to take their laundry to the Laundromats to get it done."

Smith said he was one of the lucky ones with having a well. He had enough water, but there were times he had to lend a hand to his neighbors

"I have a tank that I can haul 500 gallons of water at a time to put into their holding tanks," Smith said. "And I have lent that tank to five of the six neighbors to haul water with."

That all changed thanks to a monstrous tank that holds 278,000 gallons of water, which Smith and 42 other residents and businesses can use.

At a ribbon cutting ceremony, the $2.1 million project was unveiled. Referred to as the Swigle Mountain Road water project, the tank is said to do more than just offer the residents clean water.

"It's a possibility for growth, 'cause now that there is water here, more people will build homes out here," said Rep. Frank Burns, Pennsylvania, 72nd district.

"Getting this city water project in we worked through on in Mr. Murtha's office years ago to see it come into fruition and this big tank behind us 22,000 linear feet of water line, these people can turn their faucet on and not worry about it," said rep. Mark Critz, 12th district.

Other residents said their water was so bad; they had to use chemicals everyday to clean their water to use and only drink bottled water.