Pennsylvania will invest more than $216 million in the commonwealth's drinking water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, officials said Wednesday.

Through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), Pennsylvania will divide the funds between 33 projects in 21 counties, the state said. The money will help pay for projects such as replacement of lead lines, system rehabilitation, service expansion and the reduction of environmental contaminants.

Financing will be sent to the recipients via principal forgiveness loans (grants) and loans, including some long-term loans that equate to bond purchases. Sources of program funds are various federal and state sources, including recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST-financed projects.

The projects under this latest round include replacing lead lines, rehabilitating aging systems, upgrading service capabilities, extending service to more communities and reducing environmental contaminants.

The largest single award – a loan of almost $62.7 million – will go to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority for installation of approximately 52,880 feet of eight-inch and 12-inch small diameter water mains to replace older mains, state officials said. The new mains will help prevent line breaks, thereby reducing water outages and their accompanying boil-water requirements.