Several local counties receive $218.8M in grants, loans for water projects

PENNSYLVANIA — Several local counties received a combined $218.8 million in grants and loans for multiple water related projects.

The Shapiro administration issued the investment, which will support 33 drinking water, wastewater, stormwater and non-point source projects across the Commonwealth

“Every Pennsylvanian has a constitutional right to clean air and pure water, and my Administration is driving out hundreds of millions of dollars to our local communities to support that goal and ensure the water is safe when families turn on the faucet,” said Governor Josh Shapiro. “We’ve already helped replace over 30,000 lead service lines across the Commonwealth and working together, across party lines and all levels of government, we’re continuing to get stuff done and deliver results for the good people of Pennsylvania.”

The following drinking water projects were funded in the Pittsburgh area:

• Allegheny County
• Pennsylvania American Water Company – received a $3,908,944 grant and a $1,891,056 loan for a lead service line replacement project in the City of Pittsburgh’s 29th Ward and Mt. Oliver Borough service areas. The project includes a complete water service line replacement of 57 utility-owned/private-owned lead water service lines and 300 private-owned lead water service lines, for a total replacement of 357 lead water service lines. Project components include ¾-inch type k copper service line replacement piping installed via trenched access pits and trenchless installations, restoration, traffic control, and erosion and sediment control. Removal of all leaded component water service lines will provide direct water quality improvements to the system’s customers and is consistent with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), and Pennsylvania American Water Company initiatives to remove lead-containing lines from the public water supply system.
• Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority – received a $4,907,206 grant and a $1,715,938 loan for a project funded over two applications by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority for water main and lead service line replacements in the City of Pittsburgh. The funding under this application focuses on lead service line replacement. Approximately 483 private lead service lines and 563 public lead service lines will be replaced, for a total of 1,046 lead-line replacements. Some customers will require both public and private side replacement, while others will only receive either public or private replacement based upon where the lead is located. This project will remove the potential of lead contamination, improve operation and maintenance of the water system, reduce the frequency of water main breaks, reduce the impact of unplanned water outages and street closures required due to emergency repairs. An additional benefit is an increase in volume of water that can be delivered to areas with inadequate flow which will reduce restrictions on future development within the affected areas.
• Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority – received a $62,672,221 loan to install an estimated 52,880 feet of 8-inch and 12-inch small diameter water mains to replace older and undersized mains. This project will prevent potential line breaks, reducing possible water outages and eliminating requirements to boil water post-break, thereby improving the quality of life for customers.
• West View Water Authority – received a $5,635,872 grant and a $3,144,428 loan for Phase 3 of the replacement of lead service lines in McKees Rocks Borough. In this project, 750 lead service lines will be replaced, including the installation of 25,000 feet of ¾-inch copper pipe, 750 curb boxes and valves, 750 pressure reducers, 750 internal shut off valves, and 750 backflow preventers. Water service lines will be replaced where both the customer-owned and/or the Authority-owned portion contain lead. After project completion, the possibility of exposure to lead and associated health risks will be reduced.
• The Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority – received a $6,798,083 grant and a $3,101,917 loan for Phase 3 of the replacement of lead service lines in Wilkinsburg Borough. Construction will consist of removal of approximately 1,060 existing lead service lines on either the Authority-owned or customer-owned side of the water service lines, and installation of approximately 42,400 feet of new ¾-inch water service line, 1,060 curb boxes, and associated surface restoration. Lead will be eliminated from the water service line between the main and the meter. This will result in reduced lead exposure and significant savings to the Authority’s customers.
• Armstrong County
• Eastern Armstrong County Municipal Authority – received a $1,194,000 loan for the rehabilitation of their water treatment plant and storage tank. The project consists of the replacement of two manganese greensand vertical pressure filters and installation of two emergency generators, one at the water treatment plant and one at the existing booster pump station. The restoration of the 55,000-gallon elevated storage tank will include repairing of rust holes, sandblasting, relining, and repainting. Crucial water resources will be protected and retained to assure the quantity and quality of drinking water, and the new generators will eliminate disruption of water service in the event of a power outage.
• Westmoreland County
• Municipal Authority of the City of New Kensington – received a $3,856,741 loan for a waterline and wastewater treatment plant filter media replacement project within the City of New Kensington. The waterlines located on Beamer Avenue, Dugan Way, Wills Road, and Fairmont Street have experienced numerous breaks which resulted in periodic service shutdowns and costly emergency repairs. The project includes the replacement of 5,400 feet of 8-inch waterline, 200 feet of 2-inch waterline and appurtenances, new hydrant assemblies, and filter media. This project will increase water quality and flow for fire protection and reduce operational costs by preventing water loss due to line breakage and leakage within the project area.

The following wastewater projects were funded in the Pittsburgh area:

• Allegheny County
• The Marshall Township Municipal Sanitary Authority – received a $6,380,565 loan to improve and replace aging equipment related to the solids processing side of the Brush Creek Water Pollution Control Facility that serves most of Cranberry Township, Butler County and portions of Marshall Township, Pine Township, and Bradford Woods Borough in Allegheny County, and a small part of New Sewickley Township in Beaver County. The project will include construction of two new anaerobic digesters, a digester control building, a post digestion sludge storage tank, and a solids processing building; installation of two new centrifuges, two new biogas boilers and biogas flares, and an odor control biofilter; demolition of the existing autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD) system and belt filter presses; and improvements to the auxiliary influent pump station. Several communities will receive treatment for the expanded solids loadings from a recent plant hydraulic expansion project, benefit from new development within the service area, and be able to improve operational efficiency.
• Shaler Township – received a $4,300,000 loan for repairs and replacement of infrastructure in the Township’s public sewer system. The project consists of repairs to 30,000 feet of defective sewer lines, the rehabilitation of 177 manholes through direct excavation, in situ lining, and the installation of 29 new manhole structures. Through this project, the Township will comply with an infiltration and inflow Consent Order with the Allegheny County Health Department.
• Westmoreland County
• Municipal Authority of Allegheny Township – received a $2,851,000 loan for sewage system improvements. The project will include a sewer extension at LaBelle Vue Road, upgrades to Chartiers, Markle, and Westberry pump stations, and the decommissioning of the Melwood pump station. The LaBelle Vue Road sewer extension consists of the installation of approximately 617 feet of 8-inch polyvinyl chloride (PVC) gravity sewer to connect three homes to the sanitary sewer system. Because the proposed sewer connections will link into the sewer owned by Vandergrift Borough, an intermunicipal agreement is being negotiated between the Municipal Authority of Allegheny Township and Vandergrift Borough. The Chartiers pump station plan will reuse the existing wet well and include the installation of new 560 GPM duplex pumps, controls, a generator, and flow meter. The Markle pump station portion will include the construction of a new wet well, the installation of new 575 GPM duplex pumps, controls, a generator, and flow meter. The decommissioning of the Melwood pump station includes the construction of 200 feet of 8-inch PVC gravity sewer to convey flow from Melwood to Markle. The existing generator will be replaced at the Westberry pump station. These upgrades will decrease operation and maintenance costs and eliminate malfunctioning on-lot systems that cause environmental and public health concerns.
• Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority – received a $7,605,400 loan for rehabilitation of the sewage treatment plant. The project includes the replacement of variable frequency drives (VFDs), media, pumps and motor shafts, actuators, piping, doors, windows, louvers, and sidewalks. In addition, the towers will undergo concrete, brick, and mortar rehabilitation. This project will address structural damage, decrease the potential of permit violations, and decrease utility costs and safety concerns.
• Municipal Authority of the City of Lower Burrell – received a $9,550,000 loan to upgrade the Chartiers pump station as part of an Administrative Order of Consent between the Municipal Authority of the City of Lower Burrell, City of Lower Burrell, Municipal Sanitary Authority of New Kensington, City of New Kensington, City of Arnold, Borough of Plum, and the Plum Borough Municipal Authority to develop a Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) that would address the issues with combined sewer overflows and illicit sanitary sewer overflows. Plans to upgrade the Chartiers pump station include the replacement of the station in its entirety, an addition of a one-million-gallon aboveground wastewater equalization tank with blowers, and the rehabilitation of the existing force main. The project will also include the decommissioning and demolishing of the Hillcrest, Indiana, and Widmer pump stations and redirection of the flows to the Chartiers pump station. The upgrades to the pump station will lower operation and maintenance costs and provide positive benefits to Chartiers Creek, a trout stream fishery located alongside the station.

The following non-point source projects were funded in the Pittsburgh area:

• Butler County
• Butler County Conservation District – received a $1,120,000 grant to upgrade the Four Seasons Dairy Farm’s nutrient management operations and stormwater controls in Penn Township. The proposed Best Management Practices (BMPs) include building two new roofed manure composting facilities with stabilized feeding areas, 12-foot by 80-foot round manure tank, concrete unloading/agitation pad, and heavy-use area protection; installing roof runoff controls, underground outlet pipes, fencing, gates and access lanes; and decommissioning the existing manure tank. The project will result in an anticipated reduction of 1,714 pounds per year in nitrogen, 514 pounds per year in phosphorus, and 108,000 pounds per year in sediment that impact an unnamed tributary to Glade Run.

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