As restrictions on construction work due to the COVID-19 pandemic are reduced, we will continue to upgrade infrastructure and reduce the risk of lead in drinking water through an aggressive water main replacement program. The program is made possible through a $65 million low interest loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST). This is the single largest drinking water funding offer in PENNVEST’s thirty-one year history.
The award will support the first phase of a small diameter main replacement plan for our service area, which will total more than $326 million upon completion. Initial improvements financed by this PENNVEST award include the replacement of just under 80,000 feet of aging water distribution mains, along with the publicly owned portions of more than 2,000 water service lines, including approximately 850 lead public service lines. That totals over 15 miles of old pipe!
Where the private portion of the service line is also lead, it will be replaced at no cost to the resident. To ensure that we are replacing as many private service lines in the water system as possible and to avoid the risk of a harmful partial lead line replacement, we agreed to specific protocols mandated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC). Customers who may have a lead service line attached to the water main being replaced are first contacted via an informational packet and are asked to sign an agreement allowing us to come onto their property to replace the private lead service line.
“We’re eager to enter this new phase of infrastructure renewal. Not only will we remove lead from our water distribution system, but we’ll be improving water quality and reliability by installing miles of new water mains,” said Executive Director Robert A. Weimar. “This program will continue to avoid potentially harmful partial lead line replacements by offering no-cost private lead line replacement when replacing adjacent water mains,” he continued.
To learn more about our lead service line replacement program, orthophosphate treatment to reduce lead levels in drinking water, and more, visit lead.pgh2o.com.
