Senators Fontana and Costa Announce over $21 Million in PENNVEST Funding for Allegheny County

Allegheny County - April 15, 2026 - Today, Senators Wayne Fontana and Jay Costa announce that the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) awarded a loan of $21,770,999 to Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA) for a water main replacement project that will serve residents of their districts.

"I am proud to announce this substantial state investment into our neighborhoods," said Senator Fontana. "Replacing our aging water and sewer infrastructure with newer, safer pipes continues to be a priority of mine and this project is another major step towards that goal. When my legislation to allow local municipal authorities to access state funding for waterline and sewer repairs became law in 2017, this is exactly the kind of investment we wanted to see."

"Today's PENNVEST loan will make a real difference in the lives of thousands of residents of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, ensuring they have reliable access to clean, safe drinking water," said Senator Costa. "Residents of the 42^nd and 43^rd Senatorial Districts can rest assured that the Pennsylvania government is making a difference in their lives by financing projects that improve our quality of life in a tangible way. I look forward to seeing these dollars get to work very shortly."

PWSA's 2025 small diameter water main replacement project includes the replacement of aging 4-inch to 16-inch diameter pipes with new zinc-coated ductile iron pipes ranging from 4 to 24 inches. Water mains, valves, fire hydrants, and water service lines will be replaced. Water mains were selected for replacement based on a number of risk-factors, prioritized by being undersized, having a history of breaks, and the presence of lead. This project area includes the East Allegheny, Spring Hill, and Hill District areas of the City of Pittsburgh.

• FINANCIAL IMPACT: This is an existing system and serves 70,061 residential customers with a population of 303,255. The population impacted by this project has a median household income level below the state median household income level. Without the extended term on their PENNVEST loan of $21,770,999, user fees would expect to increase by an additional 40 percent. The PENNVEST low-interest loan funding will provide the grant-equivalent of $12,188,701 over the life of the loan.
• INFRASTRUCTURE HEALTH: This project will assist the Authority with addressing the system's water loss of 64.4 percent.
• SOURCE WATER PROTECTION: This water system has a Source Water Protection Plan approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats' commitment to thriving communities for every Pennsylvanian here.

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