PARSONS – A sewer system upgrade in Tucker County was one of two state funding projects announced by Gov. Patrick Morrisey on Thursday.

Morrisey said $2.46 million in support for critical water and sewer infrastructure upgrades will be directed toward two major projects in Tucker and Kanawha counties.

“We are continuing to make investments in West Virginia to lift up the standard of living and grow our economy,” Morrisey said Thursday. “By modernizing outdated systems, we are not only protecting public health and the environment, but also making West Virginia a more attractive place for families, businesses and visitors.”

The City of Parsons will receive a loan of $1.96 million to make major upgrades to its sewer collection system that have been identified as having surpassed their useful life. The project will replace aging sewer lines and reduce infiltration and inflow, improve system maintenance, along with other updates.

The loan, along with a $50,000 local contribution, Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) funding of $1.6 million, and $400,000 in previously allocated CDS matching funds from the state, will make up the $4.01 million project total.

In Kanawha County, the Union Public Service District will receive a $500,000 loan to develop plans for critical upgrades to the 40th Street Wastewater Treatment Plant in Kanawha County.

The design project will include improvements to the Doc Bailey Pump Station, installation of a force main to the treatment plant, and replacement of aging portions of the collection system. Once complete, the improvements will reduce overflows, save money in treatment costs, and avert the potential for environmental damage, officials said. Collectively, these projects will improve the quality of life of more than 6,000 West Virginia residents.