What is the GROW Program?
The GROW program is an essential part of ALCOSAN’s plan to create cleaner waterways. In 2016, ALCOSAN created the Green Revitalization of Our Waterways (GROW) program. It was designed as a system-wide effort to reduce excess water from entering an already overloaded sewer collection system.
GROW is a multi-million-dollar grant program that provides funding for source reduction projects in our partner communities and authorities. Under the program, any municipality or municipal sewer authority within the ALCOSAN service area is eligible to submit a source control project for grant funding consideration.
Benefits
- Addresses the community’s concerns about including green infrastructure.
- Creates collaboration between ALCOSAN and our partner municipalities.
- Reduces excess rainwater from entering the sewer system and contributing to overflows.
- Protects and conserves our area’s natural resources.
Eligible Project Types
- Removing streams from the sewer system (direct stream inflow removal).
- Managing storm runoff by installing nature-based solutions that absorb and filter rainwater (green stormwater infrastructure).
- Providing maintenance on cracked or broken pipes to reduce water from seeping in and entering the system (infiltration/inflow reduction).
- Dividing a combined sewer system by adding another pipe that only carries wastewater and the original pipe will only carry rainwater (sewer separation).
- Performing maintenance on related infrastructure to ensure it is working at the highest capacity (system optimization).
Since 2016, nearly 85% of ALCOSAN’s customer municipalities have participated in the GROW program. GROW has provided $77 million in grant funding towards approximately 203 projects that will reduce sewer overflow by an estimated 237 million gallons per year.
When and How to Apply
Any municipality or municipal sewer authority within the ALCOSAN service area is eligible for GROW grants. New grant cycles typically begin in the fall season. ALCOSAN will schedule information meetings before each cycle to assist municipalities with the application process. Application documents are available via the municipal portal.
Have questions regarding the GROW program at ALCOSAN?
GROW Grant Recipients and Projects
2025 GROW Program Grant Offers - Cycle 10
| Municipal Partner | Project Description | GROW Grant Received |
|---|---|---|
| Bellevue Borough | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – O-18 Lining and Smoke Testing - Sanitary sewer lining of nearly 4,000’ of sanitary sewer in Spruce Run sewershed. | $137,400 |
| Bellevue Borough | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – O-21 Lining and Smoke Testing - Sanitary sewer lining over 2,700’ of sanitary sewer. | $40,900 |
| Brentwood Borough | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – Saw Mill Run Flow Reduction Project - Sanitary sewer lining of over 4,000’ of sanitary sewer in Saw Mill Run sewershed. | $87,200 |
| Brentwood Borough | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – Streets Run SSO Source Flow Reduction Project - Sanitary sewer lining or replacement of over 7,700’ of sanitary sewer in Streets Run | $145,800 |
| Emsworth Borough | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – Ohio River Boulevard Lining Project (Phase 2) - Sanitary sewer lining of over 1,900’ of sanitary sewer along Ohio River Boulevard. | $56,100 |
| Fox Chapel Borough | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – 2023 Fox Chapel Sanitary Sewer Lining Repair Project – Reimbursement for sanitary sewer lining of nearly 6,400’ of sanitary sewer. | $50,300 |
| Fox Chapel Borough | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – Old Mill – Sycamore Run Interceptor Repairs Project - Sanitary sewer replacement and lining of over 7,200’ of sanitary sewer. | $238,800 |
| McDonald Sewage Authority | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project – Sanitary sewer lining of over 3,000’ of sanitary sewer. | $50,000 |
| Municipality of Mt. Lebanon | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – Castle Shannon Boulevard (SMRCS35-MB-L-03) Source Flow Reduction – Sanitary sewer lining of 7,500’ of sanitary sewer and manhole rehabilitation. | $239,000 |
| Municipality of Mt. Lebanon | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – Hope Hollow (C4800-MB-L-03) Source Flow Reduction – Sanitary sewer lining of 4,100’ of sanitary sewer and manhole rehabilitation in Hope Hollow sewershed. | $88,400 |
| Municipality of Mt. Lebanon | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – Hope Hollow (C4800-MB-L-07) Reimbursement – Reimbursement for sanitary sewer lining and replacement of over 6,600’ of sanitary sewer in Hope Hollow sewershed. | $74,900 |
| Municipality of Mt. Lebanon | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – Painter’s Run (C5300-MB-L-05) Source Flow Reduction – Sanitary sewer lining of over 15,200’ of sanitary sewer and manhole rehabilitation in Painter’s Run sewershed. | $355,200 |
| Municipality of Mt. Lebanon | Sanitary Sewer Lining (I/I) – Scrubgrass Run (C4900-MB-L-04) Source Flow Reduction – Sanitary sewer lining of over 4,700’ of sanitary sewer and manhole rehabilitation in Scrubgrass Run sewershed. | $125,800 |
| Wilkins Township | Sewer Separation (SS) – Linhart Area Phase II Sewer Separation – Installation of nearly 4,900’ of new sanitary sewers and manholes, eliminating a combined sewer overflow. | $1,241,400 |
See previous Grant Awardees and Cycles
Green Stormwater Infrastructure Guidance Documents
ALCOSAN is committed to taking a proactive approach to stormwater management. ALCOSAN and its customer municipalities and authorities have completed significant work throughout the service area to understand the scope and challenges of preventing extraneous source flow from entering the Regional Conveyance System. Building on these efforts, ALCOSAN created guidance documents to support the successful implementation of Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI). This document is intended to provide guidelines for private and public entities in constructing GSI, from initial planning stages to post-construction maintenance.
Green Stormwater Infrastructure and Source Control Monitoring Guide
This document provides guidance to facilitate successful performance monitoring of source control projects implemented to reduce inflow into the regional collection system within the ALCOSAN service area. It is intended to be used by ALCOSAN, municipalities, and municipal sewer authorities in planning for, developing and implementing monitoring plans for projects funded under ALCOSAN’s Green Revitalization of Our Waterways (GROW) grant program.
Municipal Source Reduction Measures Analysis
Every year, ALCOSAN checks in with local municipalities to see what they've done to help reduce the amount of stormwater and sewage that flows into our sewer system. This helps prevent overflows and keeps our rivers cleaner.
This report summarizes what those towns did in 2023—like updating maps, sharing new data, or building projects to reduce water flow. It’s part of a bigger plan ALCOSAN is working on with the EPA and other agencies to improve our sewer system using both traditional pipes and tanks and greener solutions like rain gardens and better land use.
Download the full 2024 Municipal Source Reduction Measures Analysis PDF and see how your municipality is helping to keep our water clean.
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