Some Kittanning/Applewold Water Lines to Be Replaced

by Jonathan Weaver

Before the end of March, four streets in Kittanning and Applewold Boroughs will be dug up to allow for the installation of new water lines.

Pennsylvania American Water announced Friday plans to replace 1960’s-era lines with new eight-inch water mains on Queen Street, Johnston Avenue and Woodward Avenue in Kittanning, as well as along Franklin Avenue in Applewold.

The lines total almost a half-mile long, and will improve service reliability and improve fire protection for residents, Field Operations Specialist Jake Gentile and External Affairs Specialist Josephine Posti said.

“Pennsylvania American Water is making these investments to prevent emergency repairs and improve fire flows,” Gentile said. “These new mains will ensure reliable water service for customers and will include replacement of three fire hydrants.”

Posti said employees at the local location are to begin work within the next three or four weeks.

“We’re waiting for this very-cold weather to pass before we begin the projects,” Posti said.

Construction will begin with Queen Street pipes and progress as permits are obtained.

She added that those four locations were selected at the end of 2014, as well as projects in other locations such as Pittsburgh, Butler and Indiana. For example, in Pittsburgh, a dozen communities – including Downtown – will see construction this year.

“We do an evaluation every year of all of the pipes in all of our distribution systems,” Posti said. “These are mains that were installed originally in the 1960’s – so they are lines that really have reached the end of their useful life.”

Officials also consider the history of repairs and if there have been any pressure issues either to customers or hydrants.
The cost of the system improvements is approximately $524,000 – the cost of with assumed by the water company.

“We have a set amount budgeted each year that we’re able to invest in each of our districts. We prioritize each year which pipes we would proactively be replacing,” Posti said. “These are covered by our existing customer base – this is not something that will impact customer rates.

“Whenever there is a rate increase, that increase is to recoup part of the investment that a utility has made over a period of time – the last rate increase would have reflected partial recovery of some of the investments we made in previous years.”

Customers realized a rate increase last year.

Future weather conditions could also alter the project timeline, but the company expects to complete pipe installation, service connection tie-ins and final paving restoration by the end of the summer.

“It’s a pretty routine project,” Posti concluded. “If any of them require a disruption of service, we’ll notify customers beforehand.”

“We also will be installing three new fire hydrants as part of the project,” Posti added.

During construction, customers might experience temporary service interruptions, discolored water and/or lower than normal water pressure. Crews will work as quickly as possible to shorten the length of these temporary inconveniences.

Final restoration is to occur later this summer.