Scranton city officials and community leaders are pressing Pennsylvania American Water and state regulators to prioritize replacing downtown infrastructure following two major breaks in a 141-year-old water main within a two-week span.
The consecutive ruptures crippled local businesses, forced government buildings to shut down, and left hundreds of downtown residents under boil water advisories. During a Tuesday press conference, Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti and members of City Council called on the utility provider and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to move Scranton's aging pipes to the top of the replacement schedule. Pennsylvania American Water did not attend the briefing.
The infrastructure failures come as Pennsylvania American Water prepares for a potential $74.9 million revenue increase set for August 13. While the utility company attributes rate hikes to ongoing capital investments and aging infrastructure repairs, city leaders are pushing for a public meeting to demand transparency on where customer funds are being spent and when the downtown pipes will actually be replaced.
