Public Hearing Set for Multibillion-dollar Sewer Project

A multibillion-dollar improvement plan for the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority’s system will be the subject of public meetings scheduled throughout the region.

The local meeting to address ALCOSAN’s draft Wet Weather Plan is from 9:30 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Sept. 5, at Hilltop Hall, Harper Drive, Turtle Creek. No registration is required. Those with special needs who plan to attend can call 412-734-8733 to make arrangements. Refreshments will be provided.

Comments will be accepted in writing and orally. They also can be submitted electronically through the ALCOSAN WWP eComment Form.

The Wet Weather Plan can be viewed here.

Released by ALCOSAN last week, the plan provides a blueprint for the region to address federal regulations for sewer overflows. It represents the largest capital infrastructure project in Allegheny County history.

In 2008, ALCOSAN became party to a consent decree issued by the Federal Court in Pittsburgh on behalf of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Allegheny County Health Department.

Consent decrees have been issued to municipalities across the nation, including Upper St. Clair, to comply with objectives set by the federal Clean Water Act and Combined Sewer Overflow Control Policy.

The ALCOSAN consent decree was the result of seven years of negotiations and compromise. The Wet Weather Plan, which identifies wastewater infrastructure needs through 2046, is part of improvements mandated with a deadline of Sept. 30, 2026.

In announcing the public meeting schedule, ALCOSAN put the cost of implementing the plan at $2 billion.