Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro recently announced more a $274 million investment in state and federal funding to improve water quality throughout the commonwealth - including in Mercer and Lawrence counties.

Combined, both counties are expected to receive about $8,835,430 in grants and $3,034,245 in loans to work on drinking and wastewater initiatives.

Broken down, Jackson Center in Mercer County will get $4,840,434 in grants and a $2,029,741 loan to construct a 98,000-gallons per day wastewater treatment facility to replace the current plant, which is deteriorating structurally and mechanically, according to a news release from Shapiro's office.

The new plant will be compliant for effluent discharge standards and will provide wastewater treatment for Jackson Center and a portion of the Jackson Township communities.

In Lawrence, the Wampum Borough will get a $2,394,496 grant and a $1,004,504 loan to replace existing distribution water lines with lead joints in the areas of Clyde, Kay, Main and Beaver streets. This includes the replacement of 9,200 lineal feet of ductile iron waterline and 100 lineal feet of steel casing with ductile iron waterline.

Dating back to 1905, the existing waterline has tuberculated and cracked cast iron pipe, which need to be replaced.

Additionally, the borough got a $1,600,000 grant to remove and replace lead service lines that have been in place since 1910 and cast iron joints in the same area. About 50 water service lines with lead joints will be replaced with new copper water lines.

The project will reduce the risk of lead poisoning and lead levels to the community by eliminating the lead components in the public water system.

Overall, about 30 drinking water, waste water stormwater and non-point source projects across 22 counties will be paid for through this money by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority.

"My Administration is focused on protecting public health and the environment across the Commonwealth – and these investments will help to uphold Pennsylvanians' constitutional right to clean air and pure water," Shapiro said in a news release about the project funding.