Pennsylvania American Water moved up the replacement of a water main along North Washington Avenue in downtown Scranton that broke twice in 10 days this July.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe project has been advanced to accelerate infrastructure improvements and represents another step in Pennsylvania American Water\u2019s (PAW) ongoing commitment to modernizing Scranton\u2019s water system,\u201d according to the company.<\/p>\n
The replacement project will cost $5 million and is expected to begin in Spring 2027, according to the water company. It was originally planned for 2028.<\/p>\n
The improvements will be along North Washington Avenue between Lackawanna Avenue and Gibson Street. And along Mulberry Street between North Washington Avenue and Madison Avenue. A 156-year-old 24-inch cast iron water main along with 6-inch water mains will be replaced with a new 16-inch water main. <\/p>\n
The repairs come at a time when the company has been asking regulators for rate increases to maintain its system<\/a>.<\/p>\n Pennsylvania American Water asked the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission for higher water rates to spend up to $1.2 billion upgrading its distribution system by June 30, 2027. Without higher rates, the company won\u2019t make enough profit for upgrades, its request said.<\/p>\n The state Public Utility Commission voted 4 to 1 in July to approve an increase substantially lower than what the company sought for upgrades and a fair financial profit.<\/p>\n ‘We must have reliable infrastructure’<\/p>\n The first break<\/a> happened at the intersection of North Washington Avenue and Mulberry Street near Scranton’s City Hall on July 17. Along with the downtown residents and businesses, both City Hall and the Lackawanna County Government Center were without water and shut down. The second break happened July 27 on Washington Avenue between the Lackawanna County Courthouse and the federal courthouse<\/a>. Again, people and places were without water.<\/p>\n Pennsylvania American Water crews responded to both breaks immediately.<\/p>\n