In recent years, our Safety & Security department has been hard at work. We've grown our team to include more than 10 professionals, responsible for everything from facility security to emergency management to occupational health and safety.

My primary focus since joining PWSA in 2020 has been on improving worker safety, enhancing our emergency management processes, and increasing physical security measures to protect our facilities and critical assets.

Enter our PENNVEST-funded, $10 million Security Improvements project, which is currently underway.

This project consists of a host of physical security improvements, including upgrades to our fire alarm system, increased facility surveillance and access control, and reinforcement of perimeter fencing. Maintaining the safety of our infrastructure, treated drinking water, and employees means we can better provide reliable service to our customers 24/7. Those we serve can rest easy knowing this precious asset is secured with the latest technology.

While these efforts may seem simple, they will ensure the smooth operations of several facilities and infrastructure assets, making everyone’s job easier and safer!

Like other projects PWSA plans and leads, funding this crucial work through PENNVEST loans ensures lower interest rates, saving us millions of dollars over the life of the loan when compared to funding sources like municipal bonds. As a publicly owned and operated utility, we pass these savings along to our ratepayers.

Intentional efforts to improve safety can go a long way. As just one example, over the past decade we've reduced on-job incident rates by 40%. In 2023 alone, we've reduced vehicle-related incidents by 25%.

Here at PWSA, Safety is a Core Value. Accordingly, our Safety goals are clear cut: to protect our organization and infrastructure assets and to send each employee home at the end of the work day in the same shape that they arrived.