Aqua PA's $17M Upgrades: A Lifeline for Small Towns' Water Future

BRYN MAWR, PA – May 01, 2026 – In a move that underscores the immense cost of maintaining vital public services, Aqua Pennsylvania has completed nearly $17 million in upgrades to two wastewater treatment plants in Northeastern Pennsylvania that together serve just 430 customers. The substantial investment in the Laurel Lakes and Rivercrest facilities highlights a critical challenge facing communities across the Commonwealth: how to fund the modernization of aging infrastructure while protecting ratepayers from crippling costs.

The projects, located in Luzerne and Wyoming counties, replace aging equipment with modern technology designed to enhance environmental protection, improve service reliability, and fortify the systems against extreme weather events. For the small communities they serve, these upgrades represent a significant step toward ensuring public health and environmental safety for decades to come.

A Multi-Million Dollar Overhaul

The comprehensive upgrades at the Laurel Lakes Wastewater Treatment Plant in Rice Township and the Rivercrest Wastewater Treatment Plant in Tunkhannock Township address decades of wear on critical systems. Aqua Pennsylvania's investment funded the installation of new treatment tanks, the renovation of existing ones, and the construction of new buildings to house and protect essential operational equipment.

Significant electrical upgrades were a key component of the projects, including the installation of emergency power generators at both sites. This enhancement is crucial for maintaining operations and preventing service interruptions during power outages, which are becoming more frequent due to severe weather. According to the utility, these improvements will strengthen plant performance during periods of heavy rain and snow, a critical factor for resilience in the region.

“A crucial part of our service is investing in long-term infrastructure improvements that directly impact our customers’ quality of life,” said Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca in a statement. The projects aim to replace equipment nearing the end of its service life, reducing the risk of failures that could impact both customers and the local environment.

Balancing the Books with PENNVEST

Funding a $17 million project for a customer base of 430 would typically translate to an insurmountable financial burden. However, Aqua Pennsylvania leveraged state-level financial mechanisms to make the projects viable. The utility secured low-interest loans through the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), which provided nearly $9.5 million for the Laurel Lakes plant and almost $7.5 million for the Rivercrest facility.

PENNVEST is a state entity designed to fund essential water, sewer, and stormwater projects with loans that carry interest rates far below commercial lending, sometimes as low as 1%. This strategy is central to bridging the gap between the high cost of infrastructure and the need for affordable utility rates. “We are keenly aware that these investments, while critical, can be expensive,” Lucca stated. “That’s why we aggressively seek out alternate funding sources to help balance affordability for customers.”

This approach has garnered praise from state officials who represent the districts. “Upgrading critical wastewater infrastructure is important for protecting public health and ensuring long-term reliability,” said State Representative Alec Ryncavage. “Just as important is making sure these investments are done responsibly, with affordability and accountability for ratepayers at the forefront.”

State Senator Lynda Schlegel Culver echoed this sentiment, commending the utility’s focus on balancing long-term needs with cost-consciousness. “I commend and appreciate Aqua on their focus to complete these improvements with both long-term needs and ratepayer affordability in mind,” she said.

From Aging Systems to Modern Environmental Safeguards

The upgrades represent more than just replacing old parts; they involve a technological leap forward in environmental protection. At the Laurel Lakes facility, the overhaul included a complete switch from a traditional chlorine-based disinfection system to a modern Ultraviolet (UV) light system. UV disinfection is more effective at inactivating a wider range of pathogens and eliminates the creation of potentially harmful disinfection byproducts in the plant's effluent, which is discharged into the Nuangola Outlet.

At the Rivercrest plant, which discharges into the Susquehanna River, the project focused on repairing deteriorated components and adding a de-chlorination process. This was critical for meeting stricter environmental standards, particularly a 2019 permit renewal that reduced the allowable limit for Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) in the plant’s discharge. The new process ensures the facility can comply with these more stringent regulations, better protecting the aquatic ecosystem of a major regional waterway.

These technical enhancements demonstrate a proactive strategy, moving beyond reactive repairs to anticipate and meet evolving environmental regulations and public health standards. The result is a higher quality of treated water being returned to the environment.

A Drop in the Bucket for Pennsylvania's Aging Pipes

While the $17 million investment by Aqua is substantial for the communities it serves, it represents a fraction of the state’s immense infrastructure needs. The American Society of Civil Engineers' (ASCE) most recent Infrastructure Report Card gave Pennsylvania’s drinking water systems a “D” grade and its wastewater systems a “D-,” citing decades of underinvestment and aging components. Many sewer systems in the state are over 75 years old, with some pipes exceeding a century.

The projected funding gap to bring these systems up to modern standards over the next decade is staggering: an estimated $10.2 billion for drinking water and $8.4 billion for wastewater. In this context, programs like PENNVEST and federal funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) are not just helpful but absolutely essential. Since 2021, Aqua Pennsylvania has secured nearly $160 million in PENNVEST funding for various projects, including lead service line replacements and PFAS remediation, in addition to wastewater upgrades.

The projects in Luzerne and Wyoming counties serve as a microcosm of the statewide effort. They demonstrate the successful collaboration between a private utility and a state financing authority to tackle a piece of a much larger problem, ensuring that even small, rural communities are not left behind in the mission to secure a safe and reliable water future for all Pennsylvanians.