Loan boosts water project

- A groundbreaking regional water connection between Johnstown and Ligonier Borough will move forward after officials landed a key $9.8 million loan.

First proposed in early 2009, the link between Greater Johnstown Water Authority and Westmoreland County Municipal Authority now can proceed beyond the planning stage.

But, since the project involves running miles of a new pipeline over Laurel Ridge to connect two counties, major construction work will have to wait until the coming winter's snows have melted.

"We'll start in the spring," said Ed Cernic Sr., who chairs the Johnstown authority's board.

Both authorities are managed by Resource Development and Management Inc., better known as RDM.

And RDM administrators have identified a pressing need on both sides of the ridge: Officials have said the future of Ligonier Borough's water supply is tenuous, while the Greater Johnstown system b...