Tarentum gets state boost to continue waterline upgrades

Tarentum taxpayers are getting a boost from the state to address waterline woes, putting the borough one step closer to remedying a severely aged system.

The borough is set to receive about $51,000 to replace a waterline along Tripak Boulevard, which has been an area vulnerable to breaks.

It is among an estimated $4 million in repairs necessary to modernize the failing water distribution system.

A 2022 report from the state Department of Environmental Protection showed about 90% of the borough’s distribution pipes have exceeded or will soon exceed their life expectancy.

It amounts to about 13 of the 14.3 miles of pipe.

Borough Manager Dwight Boddorf said the grant is a critical investment in the future of the borough’s infrastructure.

“Our commitment to addressing these long-standing issues ensures that our residents receive the safe, reliable water service they deserve,” Boddorf said in a statement.

The grant will come from the Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund. It was included in more than $2 million local funding to address water infrastructure, public safety and housing needs.

Other municipalities to benefit from the grant include Harrison, where the township water authority will get about $201,000 for a sanitary pump station replacement.

In Tarentum, officials have been struggling with a plan to upgrade the borough’s water system for several years. The water plant was built in 1934 and operates with much of the original equipment.

The result is regular failures and increased maintenance costs.

Targeting the Tripak Boulevard waterline is the start of a multiphase proposal that includes a 20-year pipe replacement plan prioritizing trenchless technology.

Officials also hoped to replace outdated pumps and improve electrical systems, expand capacity by building a fourth storage tank and invest in automation and real-time monitoring.