MODIFICATION TO THE PARTIAL CONSENT DECREE & CITY BEAUTIFUL H2O PROGRAM PLAN

Capital Region Water is awaiting final signatures to modify its Partial Consent Decree — an agreement with state and federal regulators that will serve as a roadmap for wastewater and stormwater improvements over the next decade.

The modification is designed to address alleged ongoing violations of the federal Clean Water Act and state Clean Streams Law, primarily due to sewer overflows and discharges of polluted stormwater into local waterways. Under the plan, CRW aims to make system improvements, implementing defined compliance measures that will aid in the overall goal of improving the quality of local waterways and protecting those downstream.

Projects included in this plan will have a direct effect on determining customer rates and annual budgets. Customers, residents, and other stakeholders will have opportunities to review and comment on the plan, including at an upcoming public feedback event scheduled for 5 to 7 p.m. February 9, 2023, at the CRW Administrative Offices located at 3003 N. Front Street, Harrisburg Pa. 17110. Additional information about the event is available at capitalreigonwater.com and through CRW social media. Once all parties sign the modification, there also will be a formal, 30-day public comment period noticed via the Federal Register.

“This is another milestone along the path for clean water in and around Harrisburg,” said Capital Region Water CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer. “The plan has evolved, but the goal remains the same – improved water quality and implementation of targeted, verified system improvements that will move us toward regulatory compliance, including during wet-weather events. The feedback session is a great opportunity for the public to provide input on a larger plan to control combined sewer overflow events, which are a symptom of our dated, aging infrastructure that exists in Harrisburg and nearly 800 communities throughout the United States.”

Since 2015, CRW has been operating under a Partial Consent Decree, which serves as a guide to improving and protecting the quality of local waterways, like the Susquehanna River and Paxton Creek. The agreement includes specific compliance measures that CRW must follow to control discharges from our sewer system, which includes both combined and separate sanitary and storm sewers. The City Beautiful H2O Program Plan is CRW’s integrated approach to addressing system-wide infrastructure rehabilitation and high-priority water quality compliance activities.

CRW has negotiated a draft to alter the original Consent Decree, working in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. A draft was recently approved by CRW’s Board of Directors. The city of Harrisburg has also signed off on the agreement. As we await final signatures from the federal government, CRW looks to ensure that the public has opportunity to understand and influence their role in creating a cleaner and greener city through the City Beautiful H2O program.

For more details on our current City Beautiful H2O Program Plan, please visit our website at: www.capitalregionwater.com/what-we-do/cbh2o/

EL PROBLEMA DE AGUA POTABLE ESTA CORREGIDO

Customers of Capital Region Water were notified on Thursday, December 1, 2022, of a problem with our drinking water and were advised to “BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING”. We are pleased to report that the problem has been corrected and that it is no longer necessary to “BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING”. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

As always, you may contact Capital Region Water at 888-510-0606 or writing to 100 Pine Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17103 with any comments or questions. You can also visit capitalregionwater.com to learn more.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by Capital Region Water. PWS ID 7220049 Date distributed: 12/4/2022

BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING

Hiervan el agua antes de usarla.

Este informe contiene información importante acerca de su agua potable.  Haga que alguien lo traduzca para usted, o hable con alguien que lo entienda.

We routinely monitor the conditions in the distribution system. On Thursday, December 1, 2022, we experienced a loss of positive water pressure due to an emergency water main repair that resulted in a service shut-off impacting properties between 1700-1732 Regina Street in Harrisburg. A loss of positive water pressure is a signal of conditions that could allow contamination to enter the distribution system through back-flow by back pressure or back-siphonage.  As a result, there is an increased chance that the water may contain bacteria that can make you sick.

What should I do?

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using; or use bottled water.  You should use boiled or bottled water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and food preparation until further notice.

Inadequately treated water may contain disease-causing organisms. These organisms include bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms such as nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and associated headaches.

These symptoms, however, are not caused only by organisms in drinking water, but also by other factors. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you may want to seek medical advice.

People with severely compromised immune systems, infants, and some elderly may be at increased risk. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their healthcare providers. General guidelines on ways to lessen the risk of infection by microbes are available from EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 1 (800) 426‑4791.

What happened and what is being done?

A service line repair created a low/no pressure situation at this location. Efforts are being made to complete repairs and restore normal system level and pressure as quickly as possible.

We will inform you when all corrective actions have been completed and when you no longer need to boil your water.

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Robert E. Young Water Services Center, 888-510-0606

100 Pine Dr, Harrisburg, PA 17103

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

This notice is being sent to you by: Capital Region Water, PWS ID#: 7220049      Date distributed: 12/1/2022

Boil Water Advisory – Capital Region Water

Capital Region Water’s Board of Directors voted last night to approve 2023 budgets and rates during a special meeting. With the organization’s core value of “Every Drop Counts” at the forefront, Capital Region Water presented a plan to continue much-needed investments in the city’s future while remaining focused on the affordability challenges facing so many of its customers.

The board has approved a roughly $2.55-per-month increase to wastewater rates for a typical residential property in the city. There is no change to drinking water rates or the stormwater fee. The average Harrisburg customer consumes approximately 45,000 gallons of water annually.

“It’s a testament to our leadership that we’ve been able to keep rates predictable this year,” explains Capital Region Water CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer. “Even through inflation and supply chain issues, we are focused on finding equitable and responsible ways to repair the aging infrastructure, both seen and unseen. Our plan commits $58 million to capital projects aimed at reducing combined sewer overflows, addressing localized flooding and runoff, and meeting all state and federal clean water requirements. This also comes at a time in which we have doubled the investment in our Customer Assistance Program.”

Capital Region Water consistently makes prudent financial decisions, seeking out non-rate revenue streams and striving to offset costs through state and federal grant programs and low-interest loans. These opportunities provide direct cost savings to customers.

As a municipal authority, Capital Region Water, which is audited annually by an independent financial auditing firm, does not earn a profit, and invests its revenue into operating and improving the Harrisburg area’s drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems.

For more information on the drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater budgets and rates, please visit https://capitalregionwater.com/resources/financial-reports/.

The Capital Region Water finance and senior leadership teams have been hard at work creating and revising a fiscal plan for 2023 — one that balances ongoing investment in critical infrastructure upgrades against the financial constraints of many of our customers.

“Various factors drive rates and spending at CRW. Regulatory agreements, such as the Modification to the Partial Consent Decree, require significant and costly upgrades as does the absolute necessity of providing clean, safe drinking water and protecting local waterways,” said Capital Region Water CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer. “The budget proposal process is an important step as affordability is a limiting factor among our customers. It’s a testament to our leadership that we’ve been able to keep rates predictable.”

Capital Region Water consistently makes prudent financial decisions, seeking out non-rate revenue streams and striving to offset costs through state and federal grant programs and low-interest loans. These opportunities provide direct cost savings to customers.

Capital Region Water will present proposed 2023 drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater budgets and rates to the Board of Directors for consideration during a public meeting beginning at 5 p.m. today, Tuesday, November 22, 2022.

The 2023 proposed budget priorities and initiatives include:

• Investment in critical infrastructure for the drinking water system and wastewater system, as well as green stormwater infrastructure improvements
• Implementation of the 10-year project list as negotiated with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to improve local water quality
• Optimization of the customer experience through assistance and incentive programs
• Implementation of best practices to comply with Lead and Copper Rule Revisions requirements

As a municipal authority, Capital Region Water does not earn a profit and invests its revenue into operating and improving the Harrisburg area’s water systems.

Capital Region Water customers are encouraged to attend the Regular Board meeting tonight and provide comments. Meeting details can be found at https://capitalregionwater.com/board-meetings/. The Board of Directors is scheduled to approve 2023 budgets and rates at a Special Meeting at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30, 2022.

Riverfront Park to be impacted

Capital Region Water begins phase two of a major rehabilitation of the Front Street Sewer Interceptor in Riverfront Park. The $17 million project will restore about 2.7 miles of sewer interceptor between Seneca Street and the I-83 bridge in Harrisburg.

The 111-year-old Front Street Sewer Interceptor conveys a mixture of sewage and stormwater from half of the City of Harrisburg, as well as Susquehanna Township, to CRW’s pump station located at 830 S. Front Street. Since it was built in 1911, the interceptor has played a vital role in transporting wastewater and stormwater along an intricate system of pipes beneath the City before finally reaching the Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility (AWTF). Today, nearly 4 million gallons pass through the interceptor daily, and in some wet weather events, volumes can reach almost 20 million gallons. CRW regularly inspects and cleans the Front Street Interceptor to ensure reliability.

“This project is another example of our commitment to protecting public health and the environment,” said Capital Region Water CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer. “The Front Street Interceptor is a major intercepting sewer line that collects flow from 15% of the City’s sewer system. Investing in this critical repair of the wastewater conveyance system is crucial to meeting our clean water goals.”

This project will be completed in several phases throughout a year-long contract timeline. Nearly three miles of interceptor sewer will be repaired by a less invasive, time-efficient, and trenchless process called cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) repair. Trenchless sewer repair is different from the traditional process as this method uses no-dig technology to repair outdated sewer pipes. CIPP requires less equipment, less expense, and less disturbance to the park landscape. The materials used in CIPP repair are extremely durable and will extend the useful life of the interceptor for many decades. Temporary bypass pumping will convey sewage to the AWTF for treatment. All safety precautions will be taken, and proper signage will be in place to protect pedestrians and bikers visiting Riverfront Park. No full road closures are required for this project.

All the work being completed during phase two will ultimately aid in capturing more combined flow throughout this and other segments of the larger system. This project, paired with pump station upgrades and other capital improvement projects, is a vital commitment to reaching our clean water goals, and meeting; and exceeding, compliance obligations. Phase 1 of the project restored the sewer interceptor between Shamokin and Emerald streets in 2019.

Customers with questions can contact Capital Region Water by phone at 888-510-0606 or by email at info@capitalregionwater.com.  Or visit our website to find a full list of Capital Improvement Projects.

Water Quality Reports and Lead and Copper Sampling Results Available

Capital Region Water has begun temporarily pumping and treating blended water from our backup drinking water source, the Susquehanna River, and the primary source, DeHart Reservoir (25% Susquehanna supply and 75% DeHart supply). This short-term run is an industry best practice, used to operate the backup and confirm its reliability during a potential emergency. Routine use allows Capital Region Water to ensure that both sources are available and can be utilized when needed.

“Protecting public health by providing safe, reliable drinking water is our top priority,” Capital Region Water CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer said. “All state and federal drinking water standards will be met during this temporary exercise. Customers with a sensitive palate may notice a slightly different taste, but there will be no changes to the quality of water coming through your tap.”

The short-term run will last approximately 14 days. On November 4, 2022, Capital Region Water will transition the full supply back to the DeHart Reservoir.

Capital Region Water also recently completed a required Lead and Copper Rule sampling plan by testing 45 high-risk, single-family homes throughout the service area.  All sample results came back “non-detect” for lead and well under the 1.3 parts per million maximum contaminant level for copper. The average result for copper was 0.05 parts per million with no samples exceeding 0.2 parts per million.

State and federal regulations require the 90th percentile lead level to be less than 15 parts per billion, meaning detected lead must not exceed that level in at least 90 percent of homes sampled. Capital Region Water’s result of 0 parts per billion is a great result in our commitment to clean, safe drinking water. Capital Region Water will test for lead and copper again in 2025.

Details about the source of your drinking water and how it compares to federal and state regulatory standards can be found in the Water Quality Report on Capital Region Water’s website. Capital Region Water is committed to providing crystal clear information to each and every customer.  Please contact Capital Region Water at 888-510-0606 if you have any questions.

Leaf Collection in Harrisburg has begun. The City of Harrisburg’s Public Works crews will collect leaves and other yard waste from October 1st until early December; or the first major snowfall. Crews will follow routes and schedules designated by “no parking/street cleaning” signs posted on your blocks.

Raking leaves may also produce other pieces of yard waste such as sticks and fallen branches. Public Works has some helpful reminders for residents to follow so you are not left to handle the job on your own:

• Leaves should be bagged in biodegradable paper yard bags. These bags are available for free to residents at the Public Works building from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.  (For information call: 717-412-4320)
• Yard Bags should be placed at the curb the night before the scheduled collection. Plastic bags will not be picked up because they are not accepted at the composting facility.
• If you are unable to bag your leaves, you may neatly pile them into the street the night before the scheduled collection. Sticks and other large debris must be bundled and set aside separately. (Do not block drains! Blocked storm drains can cause puddles or flooding when it rains.)
• Please follow the posted “no parking/street cleaning” signs even if your collection day is a holiday. 

In coordination with Public Works, Capital Region Water’s street sweepers will follow close behind leaf collection crews to ensure any remaining residue is swept from the streets. Please be advised that sweepers are not equipped to pick up piles of leaves or large fallen debris, which will damage equipment. Every effort will be made to continue sweeping during leaf collection and throughout the year; weather permitting.

If you have any questions about leaf collection, or where to get biodegradable yard bags, please call the City of Harrisburg Public Works at 717-412-4320.

For street sweeping questions, contact Capital Region Water at 888-510-0606. You will also find the full schedule posted on our website: https://crew.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=f10bc16aab704d5baafeca89c4494ae4

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Watch this helpful video from City of Harriburg Public Works:

Capital Region Water’s 2022 Drinking Water Quality Report is now available for customers to access online. This document, also known as the Consumer Confidence Report, identifies Capital Region Water’s source water, describes its treatment process, and summarizes compliance with drinking water standards in 2021.  

The report also educates customers on Capital Region Water’s process to deliver safe and reliable drinking water to each household and business. CRW’s drinking water professionals perform various tests each day before water leaves the treatment plant and distribution system. Most of these tests are required, however, proactive testing is also performed as a commitment to CRW’s core values and mission to be stewards of our community’s water systems from raindrop to river.

“In 2021, Capital Region Water conducted over 200,000 tests to ensure that high-quality water reached residents and businesses in our service area,” said Capital Region Water CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer. “The water we supplied to your home or business in 2021 outperformed all federal and state drinking water standards. This level of service is possible due to Capital Region Water’s continuous investment in our community’s water system.” 

The full report was mailed to each drinking water customer and is also available for viewing online. Customers may request a hard copy in Spanish by contacting the customer service center at 1-888-510-6060. Information is also available to customers and tenants via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & Nextdoor.

Capital Region Water continues to invest in its water system to provide safe, reliable drinking water for current and future generations. More information about CRW’s Capital Improvement Projects can be found on our GeoHUB by visiting https://capitalregionwater.com/capitalprojects/.

Customers with questions can contact Capital Region Water’s Water Quality Administrator at 888-510-0606 or via email at info@capitalregionwater.com.

Report Available Online

Capital Region Water is releasing a five-year report reflecting on its Business Diversity Program. The report highlights key program milestones and a summary of project commitments awarded to minority, women, and disadvantaged business enterprises.

“As an anchor in our community, we continually recognize the opportunity to invest here in our physical infrastructure as well as our human infrastructure – the people that make up the fabric of a community,” said CRW Board Chair Marc Kurowski.  “It’s our policy to ensure minority, women, and other disadvantaged business enterprises (M/W/DBE) have an equal opportunity to receive and participate in project-related construction contracts.”

After incorporating community input, CRW’s Board adopted the M/W/DBE Plan in September of 2016. This plan applies to all construction contracts that exceed the bidding threshold established for municipal authorities in Pennsylvania ($21,900 in 2022). In 2021 alone, there was an average of 15% M/W/DBE participation in all such contracts. Majority of those being locally owned businesses.

In addition to project or capital-related construction contracts, supplier diversity is considered during the procurement, award, and administration of various other purchases and professional services at Capital Region Water.

“Through an approach that encourages the utilization of certified minority, women, and disadvantaged business enterprises, it is our commitment to remove barriers and ensure nondiscrimination in the solicitation and award of related opportunities,” added CRW CEO Charlotte Katzenmoyer. “We’ve come so far in the past five years and expect the number of firms and commitments to increase as we continue capacity building efforts into the future.”

Capital Region Water’s Business Diversity Program Manager will present the five-year program report during the Regular Board Meeting. The Board will meet today, Wednesday, June 22 at 6 p.m. Meeting details can be found at https://capitalregionwater.com/board-meetings/. 

To learn more about the full program, visit our website at: Business Diversity Program – Capital Region Water