For Immediate Release: January 25, 2024

Contact: Brian.Rademaekers@phila.gov | (215) 380-9327

House Majority Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris, Mayor Cherelle Parker, State Lawmakers, and City Leaders Celebrate $25 Million in State Grant Funding to Philadelphia Water Department

Funding supports three projects, with benefits for all Philadelphia residents.

PHILADELPHIA –Pennsylvania House Majority Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris joined fellow Philadelphia state representatives, senators, city leaders, and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker at the Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant on January 24 to present nearly $25 million in state grant funding to Philadelphia Water Department Commissioner Randy E. Hayman for city water infrastructure improvement projects. A summary of the projects funded is available here.

“As Appropriations Chairman, I’m pleased to announce a $24.7 million grant for the Philadelphia Water Department, addressing critical infrastructure needs,” said Majority Appropriations Chairman Jordan Harris. “Harrisburg is delivering for the City of Philadelphia, and it reflects a commitment to fortifying the aging infrastructure in one of the nation’s oldest cities. This funding, sourced from three Commonwealth Financing Grants under the American Rescue Plan Act’s H2O PA Program, supports drinking water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater projects. This significant investment highlights the collaborative efforts of city champions who secured state dollars to protect Philadelphia’s communities, ensuring the city’s resilience against hazardous weather conditions and strengthening its water supply for the future.”

Harris said the funding comes from three Commonwealth Financing Authority grants under the American Rescue Plan Act H2O PA Program. Philadelphia Water Department projects that received this funding include the Northeast Effluent Pump Station Infrastructure Project, the Queen Lane Raw Water Pump Station Power Resilience Project, and the 21st Street Storm Sewer Improvement.

“I want to thank our Majority Appropriations Chairman in the House, Rep. Jordan Harris, for his leadership in securing $25 million in funding for badly needed water and sewer infrastructure projects for Philadelphia,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “I’ll thank every member of our Philadelphia delegation in the House and Senate who supported this grant as well. And these are federal dollars, passing through the Commonwealth and now to Philadelphia, so we thank President Biden and Vice President Harris also. Relationships and intergovernmental ties matter, and that’s how this grant is coming into Philadelphia – to help make us the safest, cleanest, greenest city in America.”

Funds distributed through the program provide for single-year or multi-year grants to municipalities or municipal authorities to assist with the construction of drinking water, sanitary sewer, and stormwater projects. Act 54 of 2022 appropriated $205.4 million of American Rescue Plan Act funds to the H2O PA – Water Supply, Sanitary Sewer, and Storm Water Projects Program.

“These investments help fund projects that will truly mean improvements for the people in our neighborhoods,” said Philadelphia Water Department Commissioner Randy E. Hayman. “The commitment we saw today shows how support from the state and federal government can improve the lives of our residents by protecting our drinking water, our waterways, and our communities. Together, we can do great things.”

The Queen Lane project supports the City’s Water Revitalization Plan, while the Northeast pumping project is part of the Green City, Clean Waters combined sewer overflow reduction initiative.

Photos from the January 24 check presentation are available here.

###