Allegheny County – October 16, 2024 – Today, State Senator Wayne Fontana announced $69.3 million in PENNVEST investment to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) for water infrastructure upgrades.
“I am so pleased to see this state investment to ensure access to clean and reliable drinking water in our communities,” said Senator Fontana. “As I have said before, replacing our area’s aging water infrastructure is a priority of mine and I was proud to support the state funding of these projects.”
The PWSA projects receiving PENNVEST funding are:
- $62,672,221 in loans to replace approximately 52,880 feet of 8- and 12-inch water lines to address inadequate size and history of leaks.
- $4,907,206 in grants and $1,715,938 in loans to replace lead service lines that will affect the 1,046 residential customers where water mains are being replaced.
Since 2020, Sen. Fontana has secured over half a billion dollars in PENNVEST investment for communities in his district.
In total, PENNVEST announced thirty-three awards today totaling over $218 million in grants and loans to water infrastructure projects in twenty-one counties. Thanks to the work of Sen. Fontana, thousands of dated lead water pipes that connect homes and businesses to water mains have been replaced across Pennsylvania.
Sen. Fontana’s legislation, passed by the General Assembly in 2017, allows local municipal authorities to access state funding for sewer and waterline repairs. Act 44 of 2017, which included the language from his Senate Bill 656, provides communities more options and flexibility to fund these kinds of water infrastructure projects, while saving local taxpayer dollars.
PENNVEST serves communities and citizens of Pennsylvania by funding sewer, storm water, and drinking water projects. These projects not only contribute to improving the commonwealth’s environment and the health of its people, but also provide opportunities for economic growth and jobs for Pennsylvania’s workers. More information is available on the PENNVEST website: https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/pennvest.
###