Consumptive Use Mitigation Grant 2023 Awardees

The goal of this grant program is to implement innovative pilot projects that improve water availability and watershed resilience during critical low flow periods and droughts.

The Consumptive Use Mitigation Grant Program addresses the need for water availability and watershed resilience work throughout the basin and provides financial support to bring projects to life. More information on Consumptive Use Mitigation is available here.


Ecosystem Restoration on Chiques Creek in Lancaster County
Grantee: American Rivers, Inc.
$552,685

American Rivers, Inc. (ARI) will use the grant funds to remove the Chiques Roller Mill Dam located near Manheim, PA. The Chiques Roller Mill Dam was originally constructed in the 1700s and rebuilt several times over the centuries. The dam currently sits at approximately eight feet high, does not provide flood control, and prevents fish passage to upstream reaches. In addition to removing the Chiques Roller Mill Dam, ARI will reconnect and restore the surrounding floodplain. ARI estimates the project will remove 25,000 cubic yards of legacy sediment.


Advanced Metering Infrastructure Upgrade Project
Grantee: Capital Region Water
$250,000

Capital Region Water serves approximately 60,000 persons through 22,000 potable water connections, of which 18,000 are residential connections. To conserve water and reduce water loss, Capital Region Water will use the grant funds to install Advanced Metering Infrastructure, including a fixed network and customer portal that will provide water users with real-time water data and abnormal water use alerts. Capital Region Water estimates this investment will reduce annual water use by 125-150 million gallons per year.


Pittston Facility Automated Truck Wash System
Grantee: Centre Concrete Northeast LLC
$84,400

The Centre Concrete Northeast, LLC (CCN) will use the grant funds to install an automated truck wash system to conserve water at its Pittston, PA concrete manufacturing facility. Concrete manufacturers like CCN must wash heavy truck vehicles to remove sediment prior to exiting their sites. Manual truck washing can result in a relatively high amount of water used per vehicle washed. However, automatic truck washing systems, such as that proposed by CCN, can conserve water and, therefore, reduce demand on local water resources. The CCN estimates the automated truck wash system will reduce its water consumption by 1.20 million gallons per year.


Leak Detection Equipment
Grantee: City of DuBois
$131,220

The City of Dubois, located in Clearfield County, PA, will use the grant funds to install 100 leak noise data loggers in addition to its existing 186 data loggers. Leak noise data loggers sense and record sounds that emanate from water distribution pipes during the nighttime. The City of Dubois and its water system operators can analyze the recorded sound data to locate leaks in the water distribution system. The City of Dubois' existing 186 leak noise data loggers have reduced its water loss by 60 million gallons per year, which it expects will improve with the installation of additional leak noise data loggers.

 Learn about Water Auditing & Leakage Management in the March 9, 2023 episode of the River Currents Podcast


Leak Detection
Grantee: City of Lancaster
$461,130

The City of Lancaster, located in Lancaster County, PA, provides potable water to over 120,000 persons in the city and surrounding area through 630 miles of water main. To actively detect leaks and reduce water loss, the City of Lancaster will use the grant funds to install nine district metering areas along with leak noise data loggers. District metering areas are zones within a water distribution system where operators can measure the flow of water into a zone using a single meter. Operators can then compare the metered flow in that zone to total water used by the customers in that same zone. Leak noise data loggers sense and record sounds that emanate from water distribution pipes during the nighttime. The City of Lancaster can use the district metering areas and leak noise data loggers to locate leaks in its system. The city estimates it will be able to reduce its water loss by 1.81 billion gallons per year.

 Learn about Water Auditing & Leakage Management in the March 9, 2023 episode of the River Currents Podcast


Irrigation Infrustructure Upgrade
Grantee: Cowanesque Valley Recreation Association
$500,000

The Cowanesque Valley Recreation Association, a non-profit in Westfield, PA, will use the grant funds to upgrade its River Valley Country Club golf course irrigation system to conserve water. Irrigation system upgrades include installation of efficient sprinkler heads and irrigation piping. The Cowanesque Valley Recreation Association will deploy software for tracking irrigation supply and pump use, as well as install rain sensors and flow control devices that automatically shut-off irrigation when it is not needed. The Cowanesque Valley Recreation Association estimates the irrigation system improvements will conserve 1.80 million gallons per year.


Advance Metering Infrastructure Implementation Program
Grantee: Denver Borough
$445,125.25

The Denver Borough will use the grant funds to install Advanced Metering Infrastructure. The borough will install 1400 radio read meters of which 500 meters will include acoustic leak detection technology. The Denver Borough will collect and analyze the meter data weekly to determine if any leaks may be present in the system. The borough estimates it will reduce water distribution system losses by 7.472 million gallons per year.

 Learn about Water Auditing & Leakage Management in the March 9, 2023 episode of the River Currents Podcast


Park Hills Drainageway
Grantee: Ferguson Township
$500,000

Located in Centre County, PA, Ferguson Township will use the grant funds to install 33 step pools over 2,150 feet of drainage way to eliminate erosion and control storm flows. In addition to the step pools, Ferguson Township will establish riparian buffers using native forest and meadow plantings. Ferguson Township estimates the project will reduce sediment loading in the local watershed by 270,250 lbs per year.


Waterline Metering
Grantee: Gallitzin Water Authority
$94,500

The Gallitzin Water Authority (GWA) provides potable water to over 3,000 residents of Gallitzin Borough, Gallitzin Township, Allegheny Township and Tunnelhill Borough. The GWA will use the grant funds to install nine metering sites located throughout its water distribution system to help track flows and find leaks. In addition to installing these metering sites, the GWA will install one permanent meter near its water treatment plant and purchase two temporary meters for rotation amongst the nine metering sites. The combination of the metering sites paired with a permanent meter and portable meters will allow GWA to reduce its water loss.

 Learn about Water Auditing & Leakage Management in the March 9, 2023 episode of the River Currents Podcast


Humboldt Water System Leak Detection
Grantee: Greater Hazleton Community Area New Development Organization, Inc.
$50,000

Located just outside of Hazleton, PA, the Greater Hazleton Community Area New Development Organization, Inc, (CAN DO, Inc.), a non-profit economic development corporation, operates the Humboldt Industrial Water System and provides water to 66 businesses on its 3,000 acre Humboldt Industrial Park. CAN DO, Inc. will use the grant funds to procure a satellite scan of its system to assist with locating potential leaks. The satellite scan will identify water saturated soils which when overlain with a map of the water distribution system will help CAN DO, Inc. identify potential leaks. Following this identification process, a field crew will deploy acoustic leak detection technology to verify these potential water system leaks. Using the satellite scan and field crew verified leaks, CAN DO, Inc. will repair its system to reduce its water loss and ultimately conserve water resources.

 Learn about Satellite Leak Detection in the January 23, 2023 episode of the River Currents Podcast


Willowbrook Estates Stormwater Basin Retrofit Demonstration Project
Grantee: Harris Township
$45,000

Located in Centre County, PA, Harris Township will use the grant funds to retrofit an existing 1.7-acre stormwater basin outlet structure to detain high intensity, short-duration storm events. The stormwater basin, located within a 17-acre parkland, discharges stormwater runoff heated by contact with asphalt into Spring Creek, a high-quality designated stream. Although the outlet structure was originally designed for large storms, high-intensity, short-duration storms create erosive conditions in the stream. The township anticipates the outlet structure modification will allow the stormwater basin to detain more high-intensity, short-duration storms and, therefore, reduce thermal loading to and erosion of Spring Creek. The township estimates the stormwater basin modification will reduce 6,000 lbs per year of sediment from being eroded into Spring Creek.


Leak Detection-Hydropressure Monitoring Gauge Project
Grantee: Hazleton City Authority
$328,872.73

The Hazleton City Authority (HCA) provides potable water to approximately 15,000 customers across 14 municipalities in three counties. The HCA will use the grant funds to expand its leak noise sensors throughout its water distribution system. Once installed, these leak noise sensors will connect to the HCA's existing leak detection software system to help it reduce water loss and ultimately conserve water.

 Learn about Water Auditing & Leakage Management in the March 9, 2023 episode of the River Currents Podcast


Satellite Scan and Leak Detection
Grantee: Hughesville Borough Authority
$64,000

The Hughesville Borough Authority (HBA) provides potable water to approximately 2,800 persons in Hughesville Borough and the surrounding community in Wolf Township, PA. The HBA will use the grant funds to procure a satellite scan of its system to assist with locating potential leaks. The satellite scan will identify water saturated soils which when overlain with a map of the water distribution system will help the HBA identify potential leaks. Following this identification process, a field crew will deploy acoustic leak detection technology to verify these potential water system leaks. Using the satellite scan and field crew verified leaks, HBA will repair its system to reduce its water loss and ultimately conserve its water resources.

 Learn about Satellite Leak Detection in the January 23, 2023 episode of the River Currents Podcast


Water System SCADA Project
Grantee: Kline Township Municipal Authority
$90,785

The Kline Township Municipal Authority (KTMA) operates a public water system that serves four communities in three counties in PA: Kline Township and McAdoo Borough in Schuylkill County, the Village of Tresckow in Carbon County, and Beaver Brook in Luzerne County. The KTMA will use the grant funds to install level sensor instrumentation in its existing storage tanks. Currently, the KTMA's system uses timers to pump groundwater from its wells. These timers do not account for existing water within the storage tanks and therefore the water system over-pumps groundwater resulting in storage tank overflows. By installing and connecting level sensors to its existing Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system, KTMA will be able to pump well water when needed, conserving its groundwater resources.


Grandview Stream Restoration Phase II - Design, Permitting, Construction
Grantee: Manheim Township
$390,000

In 2020, Manheim Township, located in Lancaster County, PA, worked to restore a section of an unnamed tributary to the Conestoga River. To continue restoration of this unnamed tributary, the township will use the grant funds to restore an additional 1,650 feet of stream channel downstream of its prior restoration work. To restore the stream channel the township will excavate legacy sediment, establish a low-lying floodplain bench and realignment of the stream channel. Manheim Township estimates the stream restoration work will reduce up 74,000 pound per year of sediment from being introduced into the Conestoga River Watershed.


Water Monitoring Improvement Project
Grantee: Mansfield Municipal Authority
$135,105

Located in Tioga County, PA, the Mansfield Municipal Authority (MMA) provides potable water to approximately 4,100 persons in Mansfield Borough and the neighboring communities in Richmond Township. The MMA will use the grant funds to install source water monitoring systems and connect those systems to its recently installed Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system. The MMA will also install radio read meters throughout its water distribution system to help it monitor water use and locate potential waterline breaks.


Distribution System Leak Detection Reducation Project
Grantee: McAlisterville Area Joint Authority
$95,000

Located in Fayette Township, Juniata County, the McAlisterville Area Joint Authority (MAJA) provides potable water to approximately 900 persons. The MAJA will use the grant funds to install eight flowmeters and accompanying manhole structures within the Village of McAlisterville's water distribution system. The water meters will allow MAJA to routinely monitor its potable water system for leaks and water main breaks, ultimately helping MAJA conserve its water resources.

 Learn about Water Auditing & Leakage Management in the March 9, 2023 episode of the River Currents Podcast


Hilltop Community Farm Stream Corridor and Flood Mitigation Project
Grantee: Tioga County Soil and Water Conservation
$440,734

The Tioga County (NY) Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), along with the Upper Susquehanna Coalition, are partnering with the Tioga County Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) to use the grant funds to implement stream and wetland restoration practices on a 107-acre farm recently purchased by CCE. The SWCD and its partners will also install two onsite stormwater retention ponds to attenuate storm flows. The CCE intends to use the farm to demonstrate viable regenerative agricultural practices to help educate the regional community.


Metering Infrastructure Improvements
Grantee: Towanda Municipal Authority
$456,480

The Towanda Municipal Authority (TMA) provides potable water to approximately 5,000 persons across six municipalities in Bradford County, PA, including Monroe Borough, Monroe Township, Towanda Township, Towanda Borough, North Towanda Township and Wysox Township. TMA will use the grant funds to upgrade its customer meters to radio read water meters. Additionally, TMA will install three meters along a 14-mile water main to help track water loss.


Water Meter Improvements
Grantee: Village of Afton
$400,000

Located in Chenango County, NY, the Village of Afton provides potable water to a small rural community of approximately 400 person served through 370 service connections. The Village of Afton will use the grant funds to install radio read water meters on the service connections to help it identify high water use and potential service line breaks.


Lititz Run at Ballstown Road Floodplain Restoration – Design, Permitting & Construction
Grantee: Warwick Township
$500,000

Located in Lancaster County, PA, Warwick Township will use the grant funds to restore approximately 1700 feet of the Lititz Run floodplain. As part of its restoration efforts, the township will remove legacy sediment and realign the stream channel. The township estimates the restoration project will reduce up to 225,000 lbs of sediment per year and restore approximately five acres of wetlands.


Spring Creek Groundwater Recharge and Floodplain/Instream/Riparian Habitat Restoration Project
Grantee: Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
$82,478.60

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy (WPC) in partnership with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) will use the grant funds to assess a former fish hatchery along Spring Creek in Centre County. The WPC and PFBC will conduct field surveys of and assess design options for the 12.5-acre site with a goal of recharging groundwater.


Wyncote Public Golf Course Pond Dredging and Restoration
Grantee: Wyncote Golf Club (Penn View Inc)
$75,000.00

The Wyncote Golf Club (WGC), located in Chester County, PA, has been recognized by Audubon International and the Chester County Conservation District for its environmental and preservation efforts. WGC will use the grant funds to remove up to four feet of sediment from its onsite irrigation pond. With the removal of the accumulated sediment, WGC will increase its onsite water storage capacity for site irrigation.