Aqua Pa. invests millions in upgrades
Work done on infrastructure throughout the region
BRYN MAWR » Aqua Pennsylvania completed $161 million in water and wastewater infrastructure upgrades in Montgomery, Chester, Delaware and Bucks counties in 2018. The investments were made to rebuild and replace aging water and wastewater infrastructure throughout the utility’s fourcounty southeastern division.
“Our top priority is to deliver safe, quality drinking water and reliable water and wastewater services to our customers in concert with our responsibility as stewards of Earth’s most essential resource,” Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca, said in a press release. “We are mindful that water and wastewater infrastructure across the state and country continues to be in critical need of replacement and rehabilitation.
Lucca added that the company’s planned capital program allows Aqua to make continuous, necessary improvements to its equipment across the state.
It includes a comprehensive main replacement component that has enabled the utility to
“These capital improvements, along with other operational changes, have allowed us to reduce water loss due to leaks and main breaks by approximately two billion gallons per year.”
— Marc Lucca, president Aqua Pennsylvania
reduce the number of water main breaks by 60 percent from nearly 25 breaks per 100 miles of main in 2002 to fewer than 10 main breaks per 100 miles of main in 2018, according to the company. The new mains improve service reliability, generally increase water flow and ensure continued water quality by reducing the potential for discolored water, which is sometimes associated with old cast iron water mains.
When prioritizing its planned projects for the year, Aqua Pennsylvania looks at several factors, according to Mike Fila, vice president, distribution, Aqua Pennsylvania.
Among the considerations is historical main breaks — sections of pipe that have experienced multiple breaks over the years.
“We also tend to go after the older water mains, and water quality is also a driver,”
he said.
The total amount invested by Aqua Pennsylvania in its southeastern Pennsylvania division included: $52.70 million in Montgomery County, $35.22 million in Chester County , $68.72 million in Delaware County and $5.15 million in Bucks County.
“These capital improvements, along with other operational changes, have allowed us to reduce water loss due to leaks and main breaks by approximately two billion gallons per year. This is water that remains in our streams, lakes, rivers and groundwater wells,” Lucca added.
Strategic planning for infrastructure repair and replacement takes place several years in advance, according Fili, who added that the schedule is always being adjusted.
“There may be some unexpected water quality issues — or unexpected main failures that could move a project up in priority,” he said.
In addition, Fili said the company is in contact with
the municipalities it serves, to assure there aren’t major conflicts between municipal and Aqua Pennsylvania projects — adjusting schedules as needed.
The material of choice for main replacements is ductile iron, according to the company.
“Ductile iron pipe and inhibits rust — ensuring the same flow in the pipe when you replace in 8 years, as it had the day we put it in,” Fili added.
In the past decade, the company has aggressively targeted replacing the cast iron pipes.
In 2008, the company had 2,029 miles of cast iron pipe across its Southeastern Pennsylvania Division. It currently has 1,179 miles of ductile iron pipe.
Among the main replacements in 2018 was a $4.1 million replacement of approximately 9,200 feet of aging cast iron and cement mains on Edge Hill Road in Abington, Montgomery County. In addition, two main replacements totaling more than $3 million were completed in
Springfield Township, Delaware County: the replacement of an old 24-inch cast iron transmission main on Sproul Road with 7,181 feet of new 24-inch ductile iron main at a cost of $2 million and a $1 million replacement of 4,065 feet of aging distribution main with new 6-and 8-inch ductile iron main on Meetinghouse Lane.
Improvements were also made to the utility’s water and wastewater treatment facilities, including a $4.2 million project at its Pickering East water treatment facility in Schuylkill Township to improve pre-treatment of the raw water entering the filters, which results in improved water quality of the finished water leaving the plant. The project also improved plant capacity and redundancy.
Aqua also continued a $32 million rehabilitation of its 1.8-million-gallon Media wastewater treatment facility in Delaware County. The utility completed demolition of an obsolete filter and other site work, including construction of a special retaining wall, and concrete foundations for two new clarifiers as well as for a new pump station.
In total, more than $247 million was invested in infrastructure across Pennsylvania in 2018. The company plans to spend $323 million on water and wastewater system improvements in 2019.
Fili did not yet have specific details about planned projects for 2019, but said the company plans to invest about $14 million in Chester County; more than $40 million in Montgomery County; and an estimated $52 million in Delaware County.
Aqua Pennsylvania is awaiting a decision by the Public Utility Commission on its August 2018 rate increase request. The utility asked to increase its annual operating revenues for water services by approximately $66.373 million — an increase of 15.4 percent; and to increase in its annual operating revenues for wastewater services by $5.369 million — a 40.1 percent increase.
As part of its original filing, Aqua Pennsylvania said the primary reason for the request is to recover $2.2 billion the company has invested in infrastructure.
A series of public hearings on the request was held in the fall. A recommendation by the Administrative Law Judge will be made to the Public Utility Commission for a vote and final decision by the commissioners. That decision is expected by May 16.
Headquartered in Bryn Mawr, Aqua Pennsylvania has approximately 450,000 water and wastewater customers throughout Pennsylvania, serving approximately 1.4 million people in 32 counties, including Berks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
For more information about Aqua Pennsylvania visit www.aquaamerica.com/our-states/pennsylvania.aspx. For more information about Aqua America visit www.aquaamerica.com.