Buried under the ground, and under decades of history, is the issue of how the region will improve its water supply, given that multiple municipalities all run their water lines through the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority's treatment facilities – and they each have separate agreements with PWSA to govern the process.
Now
CONNECT – the Congress of Neighboring Communities – has received a $95,000 "Options for Regional Sewer System Management" grant from Lawrenceville's 3 Rivers Wet Weather, a non-profit focused on improving regional water quality. CONNECT Associate Director Kathy Risko is hoping the study this will sponsor will show the 19 municipalities with direct flow connections to PWSA – representing about half the region's water users – how to better operate, maintain and finance improvements to their systems.
Indirectly, it will also be one step toward looking at how combined sewer overflows – when storms push sewer water into local rivers and streams – can be eased, to the betterment of freshwater swimming and boating.
The study will be completed by June 30. "We're hoping to strengthen and encourage conversations between PWSA and the municipalities through this process," says Risko. "All the municipalities involved are excited to see this play out."
Writer:
Marty LevineSource: Kathy Risko, CONNECT
Image courtesy CONNECT