Peoples Gas considering O’Hara for water plant site

Utility set to give presentation to council July 3

Peoples Natural Gas is looking at riverfront property in O’Hara as a possible site for a drinking water treatment plant.

The North Shore-based utility will offer a “conceptual, high-level presentation” at the O’Hara council meeting July 3, township manager Julie A. Jakubec confirmed Friday. Peoples has been mulling an advanced treatment facility on the Allegheny River as it attempts a partnership with the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.

“There are no specifics. Really, they kind of said, ‘We’re thinking about this,’” Ms. Jakubec said of a recent meeting with Peoples CEO Morgan O’Brien and Kevin Acklin, Peoples chief legal officer. “A lot of this is very preliminary, in its infancy.”

She recommended the company appear before council to detail its ideas, Ms. Jakubec said. Peoples is looking at roughly 17 acres on the north side of the Allegheny, she said. A portion of the land is beneaththe Highland Park Bridge.

At least part of the acreage has belonged to Riverfront 47 LP since 2015, Allegheny County property records show. A partner in the development group, the Mosites Co., did not immediately comment.

Peoples spokesman Barry Kukovich confirmed the company’s July 3 date with O’Hara council. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the township building, 325 Fox Chapel Road.