Great Things Accomplished When Two Townships Team Up With Singer Valve

The Millcreek Township Water Authority (MTWA) near Erie, Pennsylvania was created in 1974 to provide water to the rapidly growing Millcreek Township customer base. The MTWA purchased several small water systems which have been upgraded and grown to 112 miles of pipeline ranging in size from 2 inches / 50 mm to 24 inches / 600 mm with 10 pump stations to maintain water pressure, 5 water towers for storing a total of 5 million gallons and one groundwater well. The water distribution system has elevation changes of about 400 feet / 122 meters and an average daily flow of approximately 2.5 millions of gallons per day (MGD). With 7,300 customers and growing, it is essential that the Township of Millcreek continues to maintain an effective and reliable water system.

In recent years growth in the Peach Street commercial district, which is the main shopping and restaurant area of Erie County, had taxed the capability of MTWA’s Peach Street Pump Station. This station provides water to the neighboring communities of Summit Township and McKean Township, and its reliable operation is essential to all three communities. MTWA retained the consulting firm of Hill Engineering, Inc. to evaluate the future demands of the Peach Street pressure district, and to develop a long term plan to meet those needs. The Hill Engineering report recommended construction of a larger Peach Street Pump Station with greater capacity, and construction of more distribution system storage to meet fire demands. Construction of these improvements will take years to plan, design and build due to the multiple Authorities and Townships involved. Interim upgrades were essential to make it through the next few years.