While Allegheny County communities continue to clean, assess and repair their sewer collection systems under a consent order from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they can look to a small non-profit organization based in Lawrenceville for some financial assistance.

Recently, 2005 appropriations legislation earmarked $2.5 million for the 3 Rivers Wet Weather Demonstration Program (3RWWDP) under the federal Clean Water Act to assist 82 communities and the City of Pittsburgh in the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) service area.

"We appreciate the ongoing support of the Allegheny County delegation-Senators Rick Santorum and Arlen Specter, and Congressional Representatives Mike Doyle, Melissa Hart and Tim Murphy-in securing the dollars that allow us to assist local communities in tackling this critical problem, said John Schombert, executive director of 3 Rivers Wet Weather

Created in 1998, 3RWWDP's mission is to help ALCOSAN communities address the issue of untreated sewage and storm water overflowing into the region's waterways during wet weather. To promote the most cost-effective, long-term, sustainable solutions, the organization benchmarks sewer technology, provides financial grants, educates the public and advocates inter-municipal partnerships.

Under EPA grant conditions, the $2.5 million, appropriated from the State and Tribal Assistance Grant category of the Clean Water Act, must be matched by 45 percent in local municipal funds, private grants or state dollars. That means for every federal grant dollar spent, 80 cents must be obtained from local or state funds.

With the help of a Pennsylvania state grant, 3RWW recently coordinated and funded a system-wide manhole mapping project to help municipalities meet their consent order requirements. Using Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite technology, mapping crews accurately recorded the horizontal and vertical locations of more than 100,00 manholes throughout 4,000 miles of sewer collection system.

"This regional approach saved the communities up to $9 million," said Schombert. "It is the goal of 3 Rivers Wet Weather to spend our grant dollars as cost-effectively as possible to help all of the ALCOSAN communities."

The next project 3RWW will embark upon is a regional flow monitoring plan that will save communities up to $18 million.

(contributed by Tracy Shubert, 3 Rivers Wet Weather Program)

3/18/2005