(WJET/WFXP)– Erie Water Works received a sizeable investment from the Commonwealth in order to wrap up their project to replace service lines around town as part of one of the largest water infrastructure investments in Pennsylvania history.
Roughly $10 will go to the fourth phase of Erie Water Works’ Customer-Side Galvanized Service Line Replacement Project to replace about 1,000 old galvanized and lead service lines for local customers.
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The project is expected to improve water quality, extend the network’s lifespan for all Erie Water Works customers without requiring them to pay for pipe replacement, and to completely eliminate lead pipes by the end of 2027.
The Shapiro Administration said they’re using $547.1 million of PENNVEST funds for similar projects in 23 counties, saying it’s the largest single-round investment in PENNVEST history. Robert Boos, the executive director of PENNVEST, noted that they’ve seen a large increase in demand for water infrastructure funding in the past five years alone.
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“In just the past five years, PENNVEST has seen an 83 percent increase in demand for water infrastructure funding — a clear sign of the need for continued investment across Pennsylvania,” said Boos. “Our revolving loan model ensures these projects are sustainable for the long term — as loans are repaid, those funds are recycled to support future projects. Thanks to this structure, PENNVEST has been able to fully fund every eligible, shovel-ready application since 2015.”…