Service Connection Replacement Project
2022-2023
Background
The Erie Water Works (EWW) maintains an effective corrosion control treatment program in full compliance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Lead and Copper Rule. This treatment has kept EWW’s lead test results extremely low or far below allowable levels. However, EWW believes that eliminating all potential sources of lead is the best way to protect our customers. For more than 20 years, the EWW Distribution Department has been removing “lead goosenecks” from the water distribution system. During that time, over 4,000 have been removed as a result of EWW’s proactive infrastructure renewal efforts. EWW annually budgets about $1M+ in order to continue the work of this important program.
Project Description
The Service Connection Replacement Project will replace or abandon and remove an additional 1,300 water service connections that have lead goosenecks in the EWW distribution system. In 2021, EWW applied for and was awarded $6.5 million dollars in federal grant money to be used specifically to replace water service connections that have “lead goosenecks”. Although no longer permitted, and not installed within EWW’s distribution system since the mid-1940’s, lead goosenecks are one to two feet sections of pipe that were used to connect wrought iron service lines to EWW’s older cast-iron water mains. Please refer to the graphic shown below and hyperlinked here (EWW Water Service Connection and Customer’s Water Service Line Detail and Illustration.pdf) that illustrates what a water service connection (publicly owned by EWW) and water service line (privately owned by the property owner) looks like.
Project Area Maps
The Project Area is within the City of Erie, generally located in an area bounded by the Bayfront Parkway to the north and west, and Payne Avenue to the east. The project extends south to West 12th Street. To help illustrate the specific areas where work will occur, the following hyperlinks to four (4) project area maps are being provided below. Each link contains a general overview map along with more detailed close-ups maps on each page thereafter. Once the applicable street name and address are found, customers can zoom in to determine if their water service connection is impacted. The impacted service lines will appear as shown below.
Project Area A Maps (2021-03A).pdf West Bayfront Parkway to West 11th Street between Weschler Avenue and Plum Street
Project Area B Maps (2021-03B).pdf West Bayfront Parkway to West 11th Street between Plum Street and Sassafras Street
Project Area C Maps (2021-03C).pdf West Bayfront Parkway to East 10th Street between Sassafras Street and Wayne Street
Project Area D Maps (2021-03D).pdf West 8th and Weschler Avenue area, misc. cross streets between 10th and 12th Streets, and Bayfront Parkway to Payne Avenue between Lake Erie and East 12th Street
Schedule
The Project Schedule is dynamic, though construction is expected to last up to 18 months with a mandatory shut down between December 2022 and February 2023. This is to allow for proper snow removal during the winter months and because asphalt restoration cannot occur when the asphalt plants are closed for the season.
Work began in May 2022. Chivers Construction Company, Inc. (Chivers) of Fairview, PA, received contract awards for all three of the publicly advertised construction bids.
Upcoming Work Projected (This schedule will be updated at the beginning of every month). EWW Project Representatives will be present to provide oversight and help facilitate communication with property owners and other project stakeholders.
December 2022 through April 2023 (past)
- Work was temporarily shut down for winter.
May 2023
Chivers is planning to work in the following areas:
Project Area A
- Cascade Street – 7th to 8th
- Raspberry Street – 6th to 7th
- Raspberry Street – 8th to 9th
- 7th Street – Plum to Cascade
- 7th Street – Cascade to Raspberry
- 8th Street – Washington Place to Plum
Letter to Customers & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
The links below include a Letter to Customers providing information about the project and answers to some of the most Frequently Asked Questions. Customers and property owners may have questions that are not addressed by these documents, and as such, we encourage you to reach out to EWW representatives as identified in the Contact Us section below.
Final 4.6.22 Letter to Customers.pdf
Frequently Asked Questions – Lead Line Grant Project.pdf
Contact Us
If you have any questions about the project, there are two ways to reach out to project team members.
Email LeadLineGrantProject@eriewaterworks.org
Additionally, you may call (814) 870-8000 Ext. 280 with questions.
EWW’s goal is to reply to you immediately if possible or within 1-2 business days if the response requires additional time.
Register here for Project Updates
To help Erie Water Works most effectively communicate important details during the project, please register and provide your preferred contact information at https://eriewaterworks.onthealert.com.
EWW will utilize this system to call, email, or text relevant information as to when the work will impact you. Your contact information will be held in confidence and not shared with any other entity outside of EWW.
Additional Information
- Understanding Lead Exposure in Drinking Water – Erie Water Works.pdf (Coming Soon)
This pamphlet provides information from EWW to help you understand more about the health effects of lead exposure.
This document answers many questions specific to health risks associated with lead exposure.
This helpful graphic shows where lead could be located within a building or home.
This pamphlet provides general information about lead in plumbing and how to identify whether you have lead inside your home or business.
This document provides the names and contacts for 2022 City of Erie Licensed Plumbing Professionals. A licensed plumber must be hired by the customer to replace the privately owned line IF the existing service owned by the customer is in a condition that prevents reconnection from occurring. More information regarding the inability to reconnect can be found in the FAQs link here: Frequently Asked Questions – Lead Line Grant Project.pdf
Other Helpful Sources of Information
United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA)
https://www.epa.gov/ground-water-and-drinking-water/basic-information-about-lead-drinking-water
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP)
https://www.dep.pa.gov/Citizens/My-Water/PublicDrinkingWater/Pages/Lead-in-Drinking-Water.aspx
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
https://www.cdc.gov/nceh/lead/default.htm
National Lead Information Center, (800) 424-LEAD
EPA Safe Drinking Water Hotline, (800) 426-4791
Flushing Information
The following information is provided to help customers understand the best practices to flush inside plumbing after the new water service connections are installed and joined to the customers’ existing water service lines.
