Pennsylvania American Water announced the start of a $5.3 million project to replace nearly 20,000 feet of water main in the city of Wilkes-Barre to improve reliability for customers, reduce service disruptions, and increase water flows for firefighting.
Company contractors recently began installing new eight- and 12-inch ductile iron pipe, replacing smaller diameter water main along 19 streets.
Additionally, crews will also be installing more than 900 feet of pipe along Prospect Street in Wilkes-Barre Township at a cost of approximately $240,000.
The system improvements replace water main dating as far back as the early 1900s.
“We proactively invest in our local infrastructure to continue providing essential water service to our customers,” said Dan Rickard, senior manager of operations for Pennsylvania American Water. “Projects are prioritized based on a number of factors, including the need for larger mains to handle system demands, age of existing pipe and history of main breaks or service interruptions.”
The company expects to complete the water main installation, including connecting all customer service lines to the new mains, by early summer with final restoration and paving to start in the fall.
