Skytop Lodge in Monroe County is among the Northeastern Pennsylvania businesses receiving support through the latest round of Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) financing. The resort has been awarded a $5.205 million loan to modernize its sewage treatment plant, with improvements designed to address copper discharge requirements and strengthen the facility’s wastewater treatment capabilities.
The funding is part of a much larger statewide investment announced by the Shapiro administration. PENNVEST is committing approximately $306.4 million to 29 drinking water and wastewater projects across 23 Pennsylvania counties. The projects range from replacing lead service lines to upgrading treatment facilities and addressing contaminants in water systems.
Major Upgrade Planned for Skytop’s Treatment Facility
The financing will allow Skytop Lodge Corporation to make several significant improvements to its existing sewage treatment operation. Planned work includes a new influent screening system, an influent flow equalization system and two secondary clarifiers.
The project will also add a post-aeration tank and chemical injection system. A chemical injection manhole will be installed before the secondary clarifiers, allowing chemicals to be introduced into the wastewater stream to assist with copper removal.
Another major component is the installation of ultraviolet disinfection. According to the project announcement, the UV system is intended to provide adequate treatment when wastewater flows fluctuate while eliminating the need to handle sodium hypochlorite and subsequently de-chlorinate the treated water.
These improvements are expected to bring Skytop Lodge’s treatment plant into compliance with new copper effluent permit requirements.
Why Copper Compliance Matters
This project illustrates how environmental requirements can drive substantial infrastructure investments at private facilities. Wastewater treatment systems must be capable of meeting regulatory limits for pollutants discharged into the environment, and copper can be particularly important because elevated concentrations can harm aquatic ecosystems.
For Skytop Lodge, the upgrades go beyond simply replacing individual pieces of equipment. The project involves several interconnected treatment stages, from screening and flow management through clarification, chemical treatment and ultraviolet disinfection. This should give the facility additional capacity to manage variations in wastewater flow while improving its ability to meet treatment requirements.
Part of a Broader Statewide Investment
Skytop’s award represents only a small portion of the latest PENNVEST funding round. The state says the investments will support projects involving lead service line replacement, aging infrastructure rehabilitation, improvements to treatment and service capabilities, and reductions in environmental contaminants. The broader goal is to improve water quality and maintain reliable water systems for communities across Pennsylvania.
The scale of the program also highlights the financial challenges associated with maintaining water infrastructure. Treatment plants and wastewater systems require substantial capital investment, and specialized equipment can be expensive to replace or upgrade. Low-interest financing can help organizations spread those costs over time rather than relying entirely on upfront capital.
What PENNVEST Brings to the Project
PENNVEST is a state authority that provides financing for water-related infrastructure projects throughout Pennsylvania. Its funding comes from several sources, including state appropriations approved by voters, Growing Greener and Marcellus Legacy funds, federal infrastructure funding, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grants and repayments from previous PENNVEST loans.
According to state officials, the financing model allows communities and other eligible organizations to undertake infrastructure improvements at lower borrowing costs.
For a project such as Skytop’s, the availability of this type of financing can make a major capital improvement more manageable while allowing necessary environmental and operational upgrades to move forward.
Implications for Skytop Lodge and Monroe County
Skytop Lodge is a major hospitality property in the Poconos, making its wastewater infrastructure important not only to the business itself but also to the surrounding area. A reliable treatment system is an essential part of operating a large resort and managing the wastewater generated by guests, employees and resort activities.
The investment also demonstrates how infrastructure improvements at individual businesses can have broader environmental implications. Improving wastewater treatment can reduce the potential for pollutants to enter nearby waterways while helping a facility meet changing regulatory requirements.
For Monroe County, projects of this type contribute to the region’s long-term infrastructure capacity without necessarily requiring entirely new development. Modernizing existing systems can help established businesses continue operating while meeting updated environmental standards.
What the Announcement Does Not Establish
The PENNVEST announcement provides substantial information about the financing and planned treatment improvements, but some details remain unavailable. It does not specify a construction schedule, the expected completion date, the project’s total cost beyond the $5.205 million PENNVEST loan, or how much of the project will be financed through Skytop Lodge’s own resources.
The announcement also does not quantify the expected reduction in copper discharge after the improvements are completed. Those figures would provide additional context for evaluating the project’s environmental impact.
For now, the clearest takeaway is that Skytop Lodge is making a multimillion-dollar investment in its wastewater infrastructure with support from PENNVEST. The project combines regulatory compliance, environmental protection and modernization of an existing treatment system, placing it within the broader effort to upgrade Pennsylvania’s aging water infrastructure.
