Kinkead: Over $83 million secured for Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority
PENNVEST funds to rehabilitate water mains, replace lead lines
Rep. Emily Kinkead October 19, 2022 | 3:40 PM
PITTSBURGH, Oct. 19 – More than $83 million has been allocated for major renovations to water lines within the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, state Rep. Emily Kinkead, D-Allegheny, announced today.
“It’s no secret that water lines in Pittsburgh have been neglected for decades,” said Kinkead. “I’m very excited to see an investment like this to directly improve the drinking water quality for many city residents and get us much closer to a lead-free system.”
Among other projects announced across the state today, the PENNVEST board approved funds totaling nearly $83.4 million for the PWSA as follows:
- A $6.48 million grant and a $1.35 million loan to replace lead service lines that will affect 752 residential customers in areas where leaking, undersized water mains will also be replaced.
- A $75.5 million loan to replace approximately 63,000 feet of water lines throughout the distribution system. The project will address multiple undersized and leaking lines in a system with a historical water loss of 43%.
The funding was approved today by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, or PENNVEST, which provides low-interest loans and grants to Pennsylvania municipalities or authorities to help fund water and sewer projects. Funding for PENNVEST originates from a combination of state funds approved by voters, Growing Greener, Marcellus Legacy funds, federal grants to PENNVEST from the Environmental Protection Agency, and recycled loan repayments from previous PENNVEST funding awards.
More information about PENNVEST grant programs is available here.