WASHINGTON -- Southwestern Pennsylvania stands to benefit from a package of $14 billion in low-interest loans that the U.S. House approved last week to help local governments pay for improvements to their sewage systems.

The 83 municipalities served by the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, or Alcosan, could face billions of dollars in upgrade costs because of binding agreements with federal and state governments aimed at ending the runoff of wastewater into streams and rivers. Many communities rely on some of the oldest sewage systems in the country.

"It's not glamorous, but it's probably one of the biggest issues raised by local communities," said Rep. Tim Murphy, R-Upper St. Clair. His office estimated that Pennsylvania would receive more than $383 million in loans, which will be allocated by the state's infrastructure investment authority, known as Pennvest.

Democrats, who took control of the House in the November election, blamed Republicans for sharply cutting the size of loans given during their 12 years in power, but last week's bill attracted bipartisan support among Western Pennsylvania lawmakers. It now must pass the Senate.

Nearly a decade ago, the Environmental Protection Agency warned that heavy rains were causing Allegheny County's aging pipes to overflow and spew raw sewage, a violation of federal law.

Local officials began to confront the problem, with Alcosan and the county Health Department creating the Three Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Project to enhance cooperation among municipalities.

Rep. Mike Doyle, D-Forest Hills, said he's appropriated about $30 million to the organization to help pay for some projects. But the money is a fraction of what local communities will need in the long run, he said.

In 2004, Alcosan's municipalities, including Pittsburgh, signed consent decrees with the state and federal governments to lay out detailed plans for fixing their sewage systems and avoiding hefty fines. The costs could reach as much as $3 billion, and many municipalities are still assessing what they need to do.

"We don't know enough about the condition of the system to offer solutions yet," said John Schombert, executive director of the Three Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Project and a former county health official.

He called the federal loans "critical." They'll go to municipalities with less than 10,000 residents, including many that face regular fee increases for sewer services to cover the costs of upgrades.

Etna officials raised their fees 20 percent in 2004, the year the consent decree started, according to borough Manager Mary Ellen Ramage.

Last year, more than $100,000 of the borough's approximately $3 million budget went to sewage expenses, including about $70,000 to inspect pipes with televised cameras. When officials found serious problems, such as collapsed pipes and manhole covers, they called for immediate repairs.

Ms. Ramage said she hoped to take advantage of the new Pennvest loans to help fund long-term upgrades, which likely will be expensive.

"We know we're going to get whacked," she said.