HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania's public water and sewer systems were among the biggest winners in this year's budget process, as legislators are poised to approve $1.2 billion in borrowing to repair and improve them.

By one estimate, local governments and authorities face a $20 billion bill over the next 10 to 15 years to improve how they supply people with fresh water and treat sewage.

The House on Wednesday amended a water and sewer infrastructure bill previously passed by the state Senate, with a vote on its final passage and a companion bill expected in the coming days.

One of the bills would dedicate some of the slots gambling revenue to pay off $800 million in borrowing that would be doled out by the Commonwealth Financing Authority.

The other, which would depend on voter approval in a referendum that would probably be held in November, would authorize the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to divvy up $400 million.

An amendment approved by the House on Wednesday dedicated the $800 million purely for grants to local water and sewer authorities — the $400 million would be issued in a mixture of grants and loans.

Language was added to encourage systems to consolidate and to extend the program to cover high-hazard dams.

After a lengthy and at times testy debate, an amendment that would have exempted projects under one of the bills from prevailing wage provisions for workers was defeated, 67-133.

Pennsylvania has about 2,200 drinking water systems. Some of its 1,060 wastewater plants become so overloaded during heavy rains that they can spill raw sewage into downstream waterways.