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HOW THE PROGRAM OPERATES
History
In 1997, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) initially
cited more than 50 communities in the Allegheny County Sanitary
Authority (ALCOSAN) service area for sewage overflows that violate
the federal Clean Water Act. The EPA and the U.S. Department of
Justice threatened litigation or administrative action against these
municipalities and ALCOSAN that would total $275 million in penalties.
ALCOSAN, located in the Woods Run section of Pittsburgh, provides
sewage treatment for nearly one million people over a 300-square
mile area of Allegheny County.
To address this critical issue, ALCOSAN and the Allegheny County
Health Department (ACHD) joined forces to create the 3 Rivers Wet
Weather Demonstration Program (3RWWDP) in 1998 to help the 83 ALCOSAN
municipalities address the region's sewage overflow problem. The
non-profit organization, funded by a federal grant and local matching
funds, strives to assist communities through education, financial
grants and outreach efforts.
Since its inception, 3RWW has awarded $6.8 million dollars for
33 innovative sewer-related projects throughout Allegheny County.
The organization's ultimate goal is to improve Allegheny County's
water resources by helping municipalities find a long-term, cost-effective
sustainable solution to the region's problem. In turn, 3RWW plans
to share its model to benefit municipalities throughout the United
States facing the same challenges in overcoming wet weather overflows.
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