Sewickley Water Authority has a new lease on life.
Council adopted a resolution Feb. 13 to extend its existence for 50 years.
The resolution also formally changed the name from the Borough of Sewickley Water Authority to Sewickley Water Authority.
“When you’re an authority, that’s like being a little corporation,” council president Cynthia Mullins said. “Their board is separate from us. I’m a customer of theirs.
“They’re a well established authority that provides water service and services the lines. I can’t think of a reason why we’d want to dissolve them. They have a professional staff over there, a professional workforce, a long standing board and I wish them all the best for the next 50 years with us.”
Authority general manager Mark Brooks said the borough could have dissolved the authority and absorbed its operations and expenses had the resolution not been approved. Its current 50-year charter is in its 44th year.
The water authority has operated independently of the borough since it was first incorporated as the Commissioners of the Sewickley Water Works in 1873.
In 1980, it was changed to bring operations of the Water Works into compliance with the Municipal Authorities Act and allow for financing authority debt independently of the borough.
Brooks said the resolution was necessary to continue to authority’s plans for future upgrades.
“The authority is planning and designing improvements to improve water quality and replace aging infrastructure,” he said. “These projects will require financing that requires the authority to be in existence past the expiration of its current life span. To receive grants and loans, the life span of the authority needs extended by resolution.
“The Sewickley Water Authority board passed a resolution late last year to request extension and name change by amendment of the existing charter. As the incorporating municipality the borough of Sewickley is now moving forward with passing their resolution. The name change is to better reflect the operation of the authority, which serves the surrounding municipalities of Glen Osborne, Sewickley Heights and Haysville and not just the borough of Sewickley.”
Future authority projects
Some of the projects include a transmission main rehabilitation and replacement, estimated at $3.5 million.
The authority was awarded $875,000 in state American Rescue Plan Act funds for the project. It is in the design phase and construction is expected to take place sometime next year.
An estimated $475,000 is needed for well development.
Brooks said the state Department of Environmental Protection is assisting authority engineering, drilling and testing of a new well to replace an existing one that has been in continuous operation since 1900.
“The initial cost is being funded by the PA DEP through its Professional Engineering Services Program,” Brooks explained. “Once the well is drilled and tested for flow and water quality, it will be turned over to the authority to construct the well head and integrate it as a source of raw ground water.”
An estimated $370,000 is needed for softening filter improvements.
Brooks said the project is under review by the DEP to replace existing softening filter media and expand the softening capacity of the plant.
The authority applied for money from the Local Share Account Funds administered by the State Financing Authority.
Michael DiVittorio is a TribLive reporter covering general news in Western Pennsylvania, with a penchant for festivals and food. He can be reached at mdivittorio@triblive.com.