Harkins, Merski land $10M to replace Erie service lines, prevent major rate spike
Rep. Patrick J. Harkins October 16, 2025 | 10:21 AM
ERIE, Oct. 16 – A $10 million Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority financing package — including $9.63 million in grant-equivalent assistance and a $370,884 low-interest loan — will fund Phase 4 of the Erie City Water Authority’s Customer-Side Galvanized Service Line Replacement, state Reps. Pat Harkins and Bob Merski announced Thursday.
“We have taken important next steps to eliminate remaining sources of corrosion and lead risk in Erie’s service lines,” Harkins said. “This investment protects public health and keeps water affordable for families across our communities.”
“With Pennvest’s financing, Erie can finish critical work on private-side connections without forcing an untenable rate spike on residents,” Merski said. “This project strengthens reliability and restores confidence in every tap.”
The Pennvest award will finance the replacement of about 1,000 private-side galvanized service connections that remain downstream of previously removed lead goosenecks and lead components. The work includes excavation, backfill and surface restoration, and targets neighborhoods with household incomes below the state median, prioritizing environmental justice and low-income areas.
The authority’s system serves 58,062 households in the city of Erie; the boroughs of Wesleyville and McKean; and the townships of Greene, Harborcreek, Lawrence Park, McKean, Millcreek and Summit. It also provides bulk service to the Summit Township and Fairview Township water authorities.
Without the Pennvest financing, user rates in the project area would have risen by about 94%. With the package, the authority estimates a rate impact of less than 1%, aided by the grant-equivalent value of the nonrepayment assistance.
Pennvest funds sewer, stormwater and drinking water projects across Pennsylvania. Its low-cost financial assistance helps make the water consumed every day by thousands of Pennsylvanians safe to drink.