Senators Jay Costa, Lindsey Williams, and Wayne Fontana Announce over $13 Million in PENNVEST Funding for Allegheny County

PITTSBURGH, PA - October 21, 2026 −Today, the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) held a Board Meeting to award loan and grant funding for the latest round of applicants.

Together, Senators Jay Costa, Lindsey Williams, and Wayne Fontana announce that The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority was awarded a loan of $13,600,000. PWSA intends to replace approximately 600 catch basins. Additionally, the replacement of existing open throat basins with standard Type 13 grate structures will limit the debris, including solids and floatables, conveyed to the sewer.

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority currently owns approximately 22,600 catch basins and inlets within the service area. Many of these basins are beyond service life and are failing. There is a significant backlog of known issues, and a large number of additional sites are added every year through a review of incoming complaints, coordination, and scouting. Proactive replacement of these structures in the combined sewer and MS4 systems will mitigate the risk of sink holes, damage to other utilities, or impact to surrounding surface improvements.

• FINANCIAL IMPACT: This is an existing system and serves 104,017 residential customers with a population of 307,632. The population impacted by this project has a median household income level less than the state median household income level. Without the extended term on their PENNVEST loan of $13,600,000, user fees would expect to increase by an additional one percent. The PENNVEST low-interest loan funding will provide the grant equivalent of $7,700,138 over the life of the loan.
• INFRASTRUCTURE HEALTH: The sewer infrastructure to be replaced is approximately 100 years old and at the end of useful life.
• COMPLIANCE: This project is in accordance with a Corrective Action Plan approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

"I am proud to announce today's PENNVEST dollars benefiting Allegheny County," Senator Costa said. "Replacing these aging basins is incredibly important to keeping our infrastructure up to date, and keeping our communities safe. I look forward to seeing these dollars at work."

"I am proud to announce another substantial state investment into our neighborhoods," said Senator Fontana. "This PENNVEST loan allows PWSA to continue replacing aging wastewater infrastructure without an additional burden on ratepayers. Since my legislation to allow local municipal water authorities access state funding became law in 2017, over $600 million in grants and loans have come to repair and replace the drinking and wastewater infrastructure in Allegheny County."

"Replacing these aging catch basins will protect our roadways from damage, eliminate ponding water, reduce landslides, and keep flooding out of our basements," said Senator Lindsey Williams. "I'm glad to support this state investment in our water infrastructure that will benefit the health and safety of our entire region without passing costs on to ratepayers."

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

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