COATESVILLE – Pennsylvania American Water today announced the start of construction projects to upgrade its water and sewer systems serving customers in western Chester County and a portion of Lancaster County. The company’s sewer system improvements totaling approximately $3.2 million are set for the City of Coatesville and Valley Township, while water main rehabilitation work estimated at $6.5 million will take place in West Sadsbury Township, Atglen Borough, Sadsbury Township (Lancaster County) and Bart Township (Lancaster County).
According to Pennsylvania American Water’s Coatesville Operations Superintendant James Gable, the most complex project involves installing a new 30-inch PVC sewer main along and underneath Valley Road. Crews will use a specialized tunneling machine to bore a 60-inch diameter hole at depths up to 42 feet deep. The 60-inch casing pipe will be installed, and crews will slip the new 30-inch sanitary sewer pipe through it.
Gable said the project is necessary to replace aging sewer infrastructure, increase service reliability and collection capacity, and support expected growth in the western end of the system. Construction begins this week, and completion is scheduled for December, weather permitting.
Also starting this week, Pennsylvania American Water will rehab approximately 50,000 feet of water main – or more than nine miles – through the communities of West Sadsbury Township, Atglen Borough, Sadsbury Township and Bart Township. Crews will perform cleaning and slip lining of an existing 24-inch cast iron water main that dates back to 1904.
When completed, the project will enhance water quality and increase service reliability for customers. The water main project is expected to be completed by February 2016, weather permitting.
Despite the major construction, Gable said no traffic impacts are expected because both water or sewer projects are not located within road right-of-ways. Also, local customers’ water and sewer service will not be affected during construction.
“With this significant investment of close to $10 million,” said Gable, “Pennsylvania American Water is demonstrating its commitment to replace and upgrade aging infrastructure, so that our customers receive reliable water and wastewater service for many years to come.”
The company provides water service to approximately 12,000 customers in western Chester County and Lancaster County, as well as wastewater service to nearly 6,200 homes and businesses.
