Benham announces $5.8 million in new funding to replace lead service lines
Will ensure safer drinking water in the Carrick neighborhood and Mt. Oliver
Rep. Jessica Benham October 16, 2024 | 12:28 PM
MT. OLIVER, Oct. 16 – In an effort to reduce lead contamination in drinking water and to update local water infrastructure, state Rep. Jessica Benham, D-Allegheny, announced today that Pennsylvania American Water Company has been approved for $5.8 million in new funding to replace 357 lead service lines in the Carrick neighborhood and Mt. Oliver Borough.
“Ensuring the safety and quality of our drinking water is a top priority,” Benham said. “Replacing old lead service lines is critical for improving public health by reducing lead contamination, enhancing our infrastructure, and ensuring a reliable, safer water supply for our community.”
The funding, provided by the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority, more commonly known as Pennvest, will replace lead service lines that pose potential health hazards, especially to vulnerable populations. The project is expected to impact 375 residential PAWC customers with median incomes below the state average. It is scheduled to begin on April 1, 2025, with completion expected by October 31, 2025.
Without a Pennvest grant of $3,908,944 and a low-interest loan of $1,891,056, the cost of user fees could rise by up to 188%. User fees could rise 15% as a result of this project.
The funding is part of a package for 13 projects statewide. More information on Pennvest is available here: https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/pennvest.html
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