Promoting the importance of "sustainable water infrastructure," the Public Utility Commission kicked off National Drinking Water Week by breaking ground for one of many improvement projects statewide to enhance service and provide reliability for water customers.

PUC Chairman Wendell F. Holland, Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli and House Consumer Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Joseph Preston Jr. (D-Allegheny) joined United Water representatives, public officials and consumers to highlight the importance of "sustainable infrastructure," which provides ratepayers with improved water quality; greater rate stability; increased water pressure; fewer main breaks; fewer service interruptions; and lower levels of unaccounted for water.

"This year, we wanted to get out into the community to highlight a topic that everyone seems to be talking about these days – our aging critical infrastructure and the repairs needed to keep it sustainable and reliable for all members of the community," said PUC Chairman Wendell F. Holland. "It's a consumer issue. It's a reliability issue. It's an economic development issue. It's an environmental issue."

Commissioner Kim Pizzingrilli said, "Working to create a sustainable water infrastructure across our state is vital to promoting reliability for consumers. Many water systems have pipes that are over 100 years old, and large portions have reached the end of their useful lives at the same time."

Joined by Chairman Holland, crews broke ground on United Water's latest main replacement project, which is being funded by a Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC), used to repair critical water infrastructure. The DSIC allows water companies to use a surcharge on customers' bills to fund more upgrades of aging infrastructure.

The DSIC is a regulatory tool passed by the General Assembly a decade ago and is being used as model legislation for other states and other utility infrastructures. The House Consumer Affairs Committee has held public input hearings on expanding this useful tool to address other infrastructure needs.

"Much of our utility infrastructure is reaching a critical point," Rep. Preston said, "and we must find a way to balance the acceleration of the replacement of aging infrastructure while maintaining the safety and reliability of other utility services."

The Commission also sponsored exhibits from water companies, state agencies and water-related organizations on display in the Atrium of the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg.

NewsClip: National Drinking Water Awareness Week

5/9/2008