ALCOSAN Receives Grants - 5/17/2007

Pittsburgh – Through the efforts of state Rep. Harry A. Readshaw, the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) will receive $150,000 in grants to pay for two environmental pieces of equipment.

The state Department of Community and Economic Development grants secured by Readshaw, Chairman of the ALCOSAN Board of Directors, will offset costs of the equipment that otherwise would be borne by ratepayers.

The first grant of $45,000 will go towards the purchase of ALCOSAN’s first Vactor Truck which carries a price tag of $260,000. The truck, which removes debris in sewer lines or tanks, allows a faster response time in addressing sewer line blockages which can either cause sewer overflows into waterways or backups into homes and businesses. Previously, ALCOSAN outsourced all vactor truck services.

The second grant of $105,000 will be applied towards the purchase of a skimmer vessel which is expected to be purchased later in the year at a price tag of approximately $3 million. The vessel, the first of its kind in the region, will collect debris along the shorelines of area waterways. Currently, the debris accumulates creating an eyesore for water recreational users as well as visitors to the region, and negatively impacts plant and aquatic life. The debris removal will also benefit regional economic develop initiatives along the waterways.

“These grants will have far reaching impacts,” said ALCOSAN Executive Director Arletta Scott Williams. “Rate payers benefit any time grants can offset costs. The biggest winner, however, will be the creeks and rivers with both pieces of equipment addressing pollution control,” she said.

Located along the Ohio River on Pittsburgh’s Northside, ALCOSAN treats an average of 200 million gallons of wastewater daily representing treatment service from 320,000 customers in 83 communities including the City of Pittsburgh. ALCOSAN is not a county agency but a joint city-county authority operating under state guidelines that receives no tax monies and revenues generated solely by rates.