A multi-year construction project broke ground at Pittsburgh Water’s Aspinwall plant on Friday. This marks the start of up to four years of work to improve aging infrastructure and ensure clean water for the Pittsburgh area for years into the future.Pittsburgh Water leadership told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Friday that this project is meant to modernize its water treatment and distribution system, and comes after 10 years of planning.“When this project is completed, we can be confident that the next generation of Pittsburghers, our children, our grandchildren, will be able to rely on safe and reliable drinking water,” said Will Pickering, CEO of Pittsburgh Water.It’s been dubbed the “ABC Project,” which stands for the three main pieces of infrastructure being repaired or rebuilt.“All three elements of those projects total to about a quarter of a billion dollars worth of construction work we’re starting today,” Pickering said.The project includes these three major components:Aspinwall Pump Station: Major upgrades are planned, including new pumps, motors, and a modernized control system.Bruecken Pump Station: This facility will be demolished and replaced with a new three-story, energy-efficient pump station. Clearwell Bypass Installation: This bypass will allow the Clearwell basin to be replaced in the future.The Clearwell basin is a 44-million-gallon underground tank where water is disinfected before it goes out to customers. It was built in 1913.“It has served us well for over 112 years, and it’s time to be replaced,” said Rachael Beam, Pittsburgh Water’s chief of engineering.Several city and state leaders were on-site, celebrating the milestone.“We’re talking about how we create a better city from a public health perspective, how we create situations and infrastructures where water will be better,” Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said.“It’s about making sure that every single child, whether that child is in Homewood or the Hill or Larimer or anywhere else, can grow up without the fear of what’s in their glass that they get. The seniors can trust that water. It’s about making sure that our city has equity in the most basic thing, drinking water,” U.S. Rep. Summer Lee said.Work on all three components of the project is expected to begin soon and will continue into 2029.

PITTSBURGH —

A multi-year construction project broke ground at Pittsburgh Water’s Aspinwall plant on Friday.

This marks the start of up to four years of work to improve aging infrastructure and ensure clean water for the Pittsburgh area for years into the future.

Pittsburgh Water leadership told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4 on Friday that this project is meant to modernize its water treatment and distribution system, and comes after 10 years of planning.

“When this project is completed, we can be confident that the next generation of Pittsburghers, our children, our grandchildren, will be able to rely on safe and reliable drinking water,” said Will Pickering, CEO of Pittsburgh Water.

It’s been dubbed the “ABC Project,” which stands for the three main pieces of infrastructure being repaired or rebuilt.

“All three elements of those projects total to about a quarter of a billion dollars worth of construction work we’re starting today,” Pickering said.

The project includes these three major components:

Aspinwall Pump Station: Major upgrades are planned, including new pumps, motors, and a modernized control system.Bruecken Pump Station: This facility will be demolished and replaced with a new three-story, energy-efficient pump station.

The Clearwell basin is a 44-million-gallon underground tank where water is disinfected before it goes out to customers. It was built in 1913.

“It has served us well for over 112 years, and it’s time to be replaced,” said Rachael Beam, Pittsburgh Water’s chief of engineering.

Several city and state leaders were on-site, celebrating the milestone.

“We’re talking about how we create a better city from a public health perspective, how we create situations and infrastructures where water will be better,” Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said.

“It’s about making sure that every single child, whether that child is in Homewood or the Hill or Larimer or anywhere else, can grow up without the fear of what’s in their glass that they get. The seniors can trust that water. It’s about making sure that our city has equity in the most basic thing, drinking water,” U.S. Rep. Summer Lee said.

Work on all three components of the project is expected to begin soon and will continue into 2029.