$11M In Upgrades Nearly Complete At Elrama Plant

ELRAMA, Pa. – Pennsylvania American Water says it is completing more than $11 million in upgrades at its E.H. Aldrich Water Treatment Plant in Elrama, Washington County, improving drinking water reliability, efficiency, and safety for approximately 527,000 customers in Allegheny and Washington counties.  Officials say the majority of the investment, approximately $8 million, is allocated to essential upgrades for the facility’s raw water intake and pump station. These improvements became necessary after water levels in the Monongahela River dropped by 3-5 feet when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers removed the nearby Monongahela River Locks and Dam 3 in 2024.  Lower-than-expected river levels increased silt and debris at the plant’s intake, causing wear and reducing the efficiency of intake screens and pumps. To maintain water service, the company is upgrading intake equipment and pumps to meet customer demand, especially during changing river conditions.  Construction on the intake project started in September 2025, with crews working from a barge and divers replacing intake bar screens and two 35-foot traveling screens. The project includes installing temporary pumps and reconstructing raw-water pumps to prevent disruptions to drinking water service during construction.   Built in 1960, the plant is a critical regional facility, treating an average of 32 million gallons of water per day and capable of producing up to 50 million gallons daily to serve communities across southwestern Pennsylvania.