**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**

**Ford City Borough Stormwater Authority Receives $360,000 LSA Grant for Critical Pump Station Improvements**

**FORD CITY, Pa.** — The Ford City Borough Stormwater Authority has been awarded a $360,000 Local Share Account (LSA) grant to begin replacing aging stormwater pumps and upgrading electrical and control systems at two of the Borough’s most critical flood-control facilities.

The grant represents the first grant awarded to the Authority and marks an important step in its long-term effort to modernize Ford City’s stormwater infrastructure. The improvements are expected to reduce utility costs, improve equipment efficiency, restore reliable pumping capacity, and strengthen the Borough’s response during severe storms and Allegheny River high-water events.

“The Ford City Borough Stormwater Authority is grateful for this investment in the safety and future of our community,” said Tyson Klukan, Chairman of the authority. “This grant allows us to address urgent infrastructure needs while making responsible improvements that will help reduce operating costs and improve reliability for years to come.”

A major component of the project will be the purchase, installation, and startup of a permanent, high-capacity 4,800-gallons-per-minute vertical turbine pump at the First Street Stormwater Pump Station. Minor electrical upgrades and piping modifications will also be completed to accommodate the new pump.

The First Street station serves the southernmost and lowest-lying portion of Ford City, an area that historically experiences the earliest and most severe flooding during Allegheny River high-water events. Without a properly functioning and adequately sized pumping station, stormwater can back up into streets, alleys, homes, businesses, and areas supporting essential municipal services.

The station receives stormwater from a 42-inch trunk line and was originally designed to operate with four 4,800-gallons-per-minute vertical turbine pumps. Although the facility underwent a major rehabilitation in 1977, no significant upgrades have been completed since that time beyond routine maintenance.

To maintain limited service, the Borough has relied on two temporary 2,300-gallons-per-minute submersible pumps. These pumps have been in service for approximately seven years and are suspected of operating below their original rated capacity because of wear. The new permanent pump will restore a significant portion of the station’s original design capacity and substantially reduce flooding risks in southern Ford City.

The project will also include targeted electrical and control-system improvements at the PPG Stormwater Pumping Station, the Borough’s largest stormwater pumping facility. These upgrades will help restore the reliable operation of existing pumps, improve equipment controls and efficiency, and enhance Borough-wide flood response during major storm and high-river events.

“This is more than a pump replacement project,” said Klukan. “It is an investment in dependable infrastructure, better energy efficiency, and the long-term protection of residents, businesses, and taxpayers.”

The project follows engineering recommendations developed during the Borough’s 2021 pumping station evaluation. Together, the improvements at the First Street and PPG facilities will increase system redundancy, reduce the likelihood of stormwater-related flood damage, and minimize the long-term financial burden on Borough taxpayers and ratepayers.

The Ford City Borough Stormwater Authority will provide additional information regarding project scheduling and construction activities as plans are finalized.

**About the Ford City Borough Stormwater Authority**  
The Ford City Borough Stormwater Authority works to maintain, improve, and modernize the Borough’s stormwater management infrastructure. Its efforts focus on protecting public safety, reducing flood risks, improving system reliability, and developing cost-effective long-term solutions for the community.