The Erie Water Works’ ongoing $65 million, multi-year plan to update aging infrastructure and ensure water quality has received a $10 million boost from state government.
State Reps. Bob Merski, D-2nd Dist., and Pat Harkins, D-1st Dist. on April 23 announced a new $9.6 million grant from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority for the project, as well as a $400,000 low-interest state loan.
Craig Palmer, the Erie Water Works’ CEO, said the utility applied for the funding in January.
“It’s amazing,” Palmer said.
The project is one of the largest ongoing capital improvement projects in years for Erie Water Works, which operates the water system on the city’s behalf via a long-term lease agreement.
Project details
The project aims to remove nearly 7,400 lead service lines/connections from the city’s system. More than 3,000 such connections in various parts of the city have been removed/replaced with new lead-free pipe. The utility began removing some lead connections/pipes from the system as far back as 2004.
Erie Water Works hopes to have about 85% of the project finished by 2025. Palmer said the entire project should be finished by 2027.
The project will help to keep residents’ drinking water safe and lead-free by removing deteriorating galvanized pipe that likely contains lead deposits and poses a health hazard, according to Erie Water Works officials.
Palmer said it will also eliminate the loss of water due to leaking, aged pipes, and cut the associated expenses related to those leaks, such as emergency repairs.
Erie Water Works CEO Craig Palmer
Environmental justice areas a focus
Many of the areas targeted for water line replacement in the city are located in state-designated Environmental Justice areas, defined by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection as any census tract where 20% or more of the residents live at or below the federal poverty line or where 30% of the population identifies as a non-white minority.
The lead pipe replacement initiative also allows Erie Water Works to comply with new federal regulations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2023 announced a proposal that requires most U.S. cities to replace lead water pipes within 10 years.
Erie Water Works has more than 63,000 residential, commercial, industrial and institutional customers in Erie, Lawrence Park Township, Wesleyville and Millcreek Township, as well as parts of Harborcreek, McKean, Greene and Summit townships.
The project’s roughly $65 million comes from both federal sources — including $6.5 million from the Water Infrastructure Fund Transfer Act and $24 million from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — and grants/loans from PENNVEST.
Merski said the funding “isn’t merely an investment in pipes and fittings — it’s an investment in our community’s longevity. By modernizing our water system today, we’re safeguarding public health and setting a sturdy foundation for future generations to thrive.”
State Rep. Pat Harkins, of Erie, D-1st Dist.
Harkins added: “Delivering safe water is the cornerstone of our community’s well-being. We’re boldly advancing our efforts to eliminate health hazards and modernize our water infrastructure.”
Contact Kevin Flowers at kflowers@timesnews.com. Follow him on X at @ETNflowers.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Water Works lead pipe replacement project gets another $10M
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