Investing In Our Communities

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) estimates that approximately $277 billion of capital spending will be needed across the nation between 2003 and 2022 to replace aging water infrastructure and comply with stricter water quality standards. The USEPA also estimates that approximately $388 billion will be needed between 2000 and 2019 to replace aging wastewater infrastructure. We intend to invest capital prudently to enable us to continue to provide essential services to our regulated water and wastewater utility customers. Investing in our infrastructure is critical to our mission of serving our customers quality and reliable water and wastewater service. 

We have a strong and ongoing commitment to investing in infrastructure and keeping it updated. We are committed to delivering excellent service that our customers depend upon at an exceptional value. Tap water costs about a penny a gallon - a remarkable value compared to any other utilities today. With few exceptions, water service remains the lowest utility bill that a household will pay.

In fact, in Pennsylvania alone, we have invested more than $790 million since 2000 to improve service to our customers. Every year, we deliver system improvements to the communities we serve – from extending water mains to replacing meters and hydrants to upgrading plant equipment. These investments will help us continue to provide high quality water and wastewater service. 

Examples of projects completed across the state in recent years:

• replacing two treatment plants with one state-of-the-art facility serving Cumberland and York Counties
• replacing more than 260 miles of pipeline. This included replacing more than 1,100 feet of aging pipe in Yardley, 1,400 feet of 24-inch water main across the Susquehanna River from Pittston to West Pittston and nearly 2,700 feet of 12-inch pipe in Plainfield Township.
• building new storage facilities to ensure reliability of service
• constructing improvements to our treatment plants
• installing pump stations to improve water pressure
• enhancing municipal fire service by installing new or replacement fire hydrants
• installing new or replacement customer meters
• implementing or upgrading the company's monitoring control systems, which enables plant operations and distribution facilities to be monitored from a centralized location

Pennsylvania American Water Pipeline Improvements Underway

Pennsylvania American Water is committed to providing high-quality, reliable water service to our customers. This requires continually investing in our treatment and distribution facilities. Below are system improvements currently underway. These projects seek to improve the reliability of water service to the area.

• Archbald, Lackawanna County: The company installed approximately 1,200 feet of eight-inch water main along South Miller Street, replacing the existing four-inch pipe. Read more.

• Blakely, Lackawanna County: Approximately 1,600 feet of existing six-inch pipe was upgraded to new eight-inch pipe along Hickory Street in the borough. Another project planned for mid-September involves replacing approximately 300 feet of existing two-inch water main with new six-inch pipe along First Street.The company expects to complete final paving restoration of the roads by the end of September. Read more.
  
• Brownsville, Uniontown and the Mon-Valley: In October, Pennsylvania American Water announced the start of four water main projects, bringing its total 2008 investment in Brownsville, Uniontown and the Mon-Valley to approximately $5.6 million. The pipe upgrades planned for the fall, valued at more than $660,000, will improve service reliability and increase flows for firefighting. The company serves approximately 35,000 customers in Brownsville, Uniontown and the Mon-Valley. In 2008, Pennsylvania American Water has replaced nearly nine miles of water main throughout its local system. Starting in October, the company will be installing more than 5,400 feet of water main in the following locations. Read more.
  • Uniontown - North Beeson Street, Delaware Avenue and Morgantown Street
  • Elizabeth Township - Upper and Lower Long Hollow Roads 

• Butler, Butler County: Starting the week of August 25, Pennsylvania American Water began work on a $450,000 project to replace approximately 1,300 feet of aging steel pipe with new ductile iron water main along Federal Street, between North Washington and Broad streets. The company also will be replacing approximately 850 feet of cast iron main along the north and south sides of West Diamond Street, between South Washington and South Main streets. Weather permitting, the proposed completion date, including paving restoration, is anticipated for early spring of 2009. Read more.
  
• Camp Hill, Cumberland County: Starting September 12, Pennsylvania American Water began installing nearly 1,900 feet of new eight-inch ductile iron pipe along Columbia Avenue and Harvard Avenue, replacing water main that dates back to 1949. Both streets will be under construction between Pennsylvania Avenue and 21st Street. The improvements also include replacing two fire hydrants.

• Carbondale, Lackawanna County: In Carbondale, crews installed approximately 150 feet of eight-inch ductile iron pipe along Foster Place, replacing the existing four-inch pipe. Read more.
  
  
• Claysville and Donegal Township: Pennsylvania American Water is embarking on a sewer system investigation study to support its newly acquired Claysville-Donegal Wastewater Treatment and Collection System. The goal of the $180,000 study is to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) that occur when sewer systems reach maximum treatment capacity and untreated wastewater is released into the environment. For more information, view our news release, customer letter, FAQ and the notice we placed in the newspaper.

• Derry Township, Dauphin County: Starting the week of August 25, we began replacing nearly 3,300 feet of aging cast iron and galvanized steel pipe with new ductile iron water main along East Caracas Avenue and Trinidad Avenue. The cost of pipe upgrades is approximately $500,000. Weather permitting, it is anticipated that the project, including final paving restoration, will be completed by the end of November. Read more about it.

• Hanover and Collier Townships: Pennsylvania American Water is in the process of installing a combined five miles of pipe to provide public water service and improved fire protection to 70 customers in Hanover, Washington County, and Collier Township, Allegheny County. Pennsylvania American Water secured approximately $2.4 million in low-interest financing from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to install the pipelines. Both projects will enable the company to bring public water service to families who currently depend on unreliable private wells, springs and cisterns for water. Click here, for more information on Hanover Township and Collier Township. 

• McMurray, Washington County: The total 2008 investment by Pennsylvania American Water in Washington County is approximately $7.2 million. The pipe upgrades planned for the fall are valued at nearly $873,000. In 2008, Pennsylvania American Water has replaced nearly eight miles of water main throughout its local system.Starting in October, the company is installing water main in the following locations:

  • Langloth - Francis Mine Road 
  • McMurray - Galley Road 
  • Washington and South Strabane Township - Glenn, Nevada and Idaho Streets 
• Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of November. Read more.
  
• Pittsburgh, Allegheny County: Pennsylvania American Water announced today that it is investing approximately $5.8 million in its Pittsburgh area water system this fall to improve service reliability and increase water flows for firefighting. This latest round of water main improvements raises Pennsylvania American Water’s total 2008 investment in its Pittsburgh District to approximately $22 million. This fall, the company has/will be installing almost six miles of new pipe and service connections from the pipeline to the curb in the following locations. For more information, view our news release:
  • Baldwin Borough - Godec Street
  • Bethel Park - Gerhold Street, Lutz Lane, Walther Lane, Oakhurst Road, Dale Road and Hillcrest Road
  • Bridgeville - Chess Street and Hall Street
  • Carnegie - Charter Oak Road and Fifth Avenue
  • Castle Shannon - Broadway Street
  • Homestead Borough - West 9th Street to Hays Street, West 10th Street to Hays Street and West 15th Street to Hays Street
  • Mount Lebanon - Mission Drive
  • Munhall - Orchid Street and West Oliver Road and West Marietta Street
  • Pleasant Hills - Baker Street and McClelland Drive
  • Rosslyn Farms - Club Road, Priscilla Lane and Standish Road
  • South Fayette - Orchard Avenue and Wabash Avenue
  • West Homestead - Doyle Avenue
  • Whitehall - Lewis Street and Audbert Drive
  • City of Pittsburgh 19th Ward - Belasco Avenue, Woodward Avenue, Ringwalt Street
  • City of Pittsburgh 20th Ward - Stafford Street, Wyckoff Street, Bellingham Avenue, Fairdale Street and McKinney Lane
  • City of Pittsburgh 28th Ward - Glendon Avenue, Pensdale Street and Noblestown Road
  • City of Pittsburgh 29th Ward - Ester Street and Ravilla Avenue
  • City of Pittsburgh 31st Ward - Armorhill Avenue and Tomey Road
    
• Spring Brook Township, Lackawanna County: Pennsylvania American Water commemorated the completion of the approximately $10.2 million rehabilitation of its Watres Dam and Reservoir in Spring Brook Township, Lackawanna County, in November. The 12-month construction project included widening the spillway and related upgrades to improve the dam’s stability in accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) requirements for dam safety. For more information, click here.