HARRISBURG – Sen. Dan Laughlin (R-49) announced the approval of $10 million in funding through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to support critical Erie water infrastructure upgrades.
The funding will assist the Erie City Water Authority with a key project aimed at improving water quality, modernizing infrastructure and protecting public health for thousands of residents across the region.
“Investing in safe, reliable water infrastructure is essential to protecting public health and supporting long-term economic growth in our communities,” said Laughlin. “This project will improve water quality for residents while ensuring the Erie City Water Authority can continue delivering dependable service for years to come.”
The $10 million investment will support Phase 5 of the authority’s customer side galvanized service line replacement project. This initiative will replace approximately 1,250 aging service lines that were previously connected to lead components, helping eliminate potential exposure to lead in drinking water.
The funding includes a combination of a low-interest loan and significant grant funding, reducing the financial burden on local ratepayers while allowing the project to move forward.
More than 56,000 households served by the Erie City Water Authority — including residents in the City of Erie and surrounding communities — are expected to benefit from the improvements.
“Without PENNVEST support, these necessary upgrades would place a significant financial strain on local families,” Laughlin added. “This funding allows us to move forward with critical improvements while keeping costs manageable for residents.”
Construction is expected to begin this year.
CONTACT: David Kozak