Philipsburg area water system to get $18M in upgrades. Here’s what to know

The Philipsburg area will see $18 million in water infrastructure investments over the coming years, Pennsylvania American Water announced Thursday.

The projects will “improve water system reliability, quality and service for customers” in the Philipsburg system, PAW wrote in a press release.

The four projects that will be funded by PAW’s investment include the construction of a one-million gallon water storage tank and clearwell at PAW’s Philipsburg plant; the replacement of two existing, buried booster pump stations with new, above-ground stations in Linnwood and Sandy Ridge, Rush Township; the construction of two new booster pump stations and two miles of line connecting them along Emigh Run in Morris Township, Clearfield County; and the drilling of a new well to improve the system’s reliability along Trout Run in Rush Township.

“Providing reliable service to our customers means continuous investment in our systems’ infrastructure,” PAW Engineering Manager Bruce Brubaker said in a written statement. “We prioritize projects based on several factors, including the need for larger capacity, the age of existing infrastructure and any history of service interruptions. These projects will enable us to continue providing the high-quality service our customers expect and deserve.”

According to the press release, the upgrades will take place over the course of the next seven years. It also states that for every $1 million invested into water infrastructure, around 15 jobs are created, which equates to roughly 270 jobs being created for the PAW’s upcoming projects.

As the projects move forward, PAW issued a warning that customers may experience temporary service interruptions, water discoloration or lower-than-normal water pressure levels — according to the release, employees will work “as quickly as possible” to help shorten those inconveniences.

For more information about the upcoming projects, call PAW at 1-800-565-7292.