Pittsburgh Water tapped $193 million in contracts to begin construction this fall on a major slice of their $470 million overhaul of the city’s pumping and distribution system.
Mascaro Construction Company, Right Electric, SSM Industries and Guy’s Mechanical Systems got the contracts to make renovations to the Aspinwall Pump Station and completely replace the Bruecken Pump Station — next to the Allegheny River and Washington Boulevard — as well as building a pipeline bypass of the clearwell at their water treatment plant. Work is expected to wrap up in 2029.
The Aspinwall Pump Station is getting new pumps, motors, switchgear, piping and a new chemical building, among other improvements. Contractors at the Bruecken Pump Station will build a new three-story building complete with new pumps, equipment and piping.
These upgrades are designed to keep the drinking water flowing so that Pittsburgh Water can ultimately replace the heart of the water treatment system — a 44-million gallon tank of water called a clearwell located at the main water treatment plant along the Allegheny River. It’s nearly 100 years old and needs to be replaced.
At the clearwell, water is disinfected with chlorine before it’s sent out to drink. The treated water flows from the main treatment plant to a pump station like the Bruecken or Aspinwall Pump Stations. From there, the water courses through big pipes or supply mains to reservoirs, such as the one in Highland Park. Then, the drinking water travels through the maze of underground pipes to the taps throughout Pittsburgh.
The project has been funded by hundreds of millions of dollars in low-interest loans from the state and federal government, including state programs like PENNVEST, which helps fund municipal infrastructure work in the state.
But ratepayers will still have to pick up a piece of the tab. Pittsburgh Water’s rates have been going up for years. Today, the average water bill in the city of Pittsburgh is about $100 a month, according to Pittsburgh Water.
The whole project is expected to be completed by 2034.
