In a small rural community like Westover Borough, water isn’t something many people think about until a problem arises.
For many years, this Clearfield County (PA) community relied on a single surface water source to serve every home and business in town. While the system worked, it left the community vulnerable. Any sort of disruption could have left the entire community without water, something no one should have to worry about.
In 2025, that vulnerability was addressed.
With support from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and assistance from the North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission, Westover completed a nearly $500,000 project to establish a second, reliable water source. The effort included drilling two test wells and one production well, along with major upgrades to the Borough’s existing water treatment plant.
Upon completion, the results were substantial. Daily water capacity increased from approximately 20,000 gallons to more than 70,000 gallons, more than tripling the available supply.
Today, 154 households and several local businesses are served by a stronger, more dependable water system. The added capacity not only improves reliability and public health, but also creates room for future residential growth and expanded tourism activity in the area.
In rural communities like Westover, infrastructure projects may not always serve massive amounts of people, but they serve everyone who calls that place home. With this project complete, Westover Borough has greater stability today and more opportunity for tomorrow, demonstrating how strategic investments can help prepare rural Appalachian communities for the future.
