More than $18.5 million in state money is headed to Erie County.
According to state representative Ryan Bizzarro, Erie Water Works will receive $18 million to replace lead components and to renovate its distribution facility.
Erie awarded $18 million for water infrastructure upgrades
The authority is in the process of replacing aging goosenecks, small sections of pipe that once connected water mains to service lines and often contained lead.
The project is being supported by $10 million in funding from the Commonwealth to replace 7,300 goosenecks. As of the end of 2025, that number is down to 1,300.
Removing these outdated connections is part of a larger effort to modernize infrastructure and eliminate any exposure to lead in the water.
“So our water is completely safe, but the idea is no lead is safe. And so the idea is to get the lead out. That there won’t be a problem,” said Craig Palmer, CEO of Erie Water Works.
Officials said the upgrades will benefit tens of thousands of people and are expected to continue through multiple phases.
The Erie County District Attorney’s office is getting nearly $500,000 for programs to reduce gun violence.
And nearly $50,000 is headed to the United Way of Erie County to launch an after-school, intro to sports program, for 1st through 5th-graders.
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