ALCOSAN taps new contractor for $2.5m regional sewer inspection, authorizes Series 2026 bonds

ALCOSAN taps new contractor for $2.5m regional sewer inspection, authorizes Series 2026 bondsThe Allegheny County Sanitary Authority is advancing its underground infrastructure program, awarding a major conveyance inspection contract to Equix Integrity and issuing new bonds to back its ongoing federal consent decree requirements.

Equix Integrity won a $2.49 million contract to inspect and clean several thousand feet of regionalized sewers, beating three other bidders with a price below the engineer's estimate.

The board authorized the issuance of Series 2026 bonds to fund components of the utility's Clean Water Plan.

ALCOSAN reported $161 million in capital spending through June 2026 out of a $376 million budget, driven largely by the Ohio River Tunnel and a wet weather pump station.

Engineering firm WRA was awarded an associated $253,800 construction management contract to oversee the sewer inspection work.

The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) board approved a $2,495,169 contract on July 23 to Equix Integrity for regionalized infrastructure inspection, introducing a new contractor to the utility and the broader Pittsburgh region. The contract covers the inspection and cleaning of several thousand feet of regionalized sewers, principally in the Pine Creek and Whittaker Run areas. The award includes a base bid of $2,268,336 and a 10% contingency. According to Mike Lister, ALCOSAN's Director of Regional Conveyance, the four bids received featured a tight spread and came in well below the engineer's estimate. To oversee the project, the board also approved a construction management services contract to engineering consultant WRA for an amount not to exceed $253,800. The sewer inspection work is part of a massive capital push for the utility. During the same meeting, the board adopted resolutions authorizing the issuance of Series 2026 bonds and appointing an underwriting syndicate. According to staff, the bonds will pay for components of the utility's Clean Water Plan, which is mandated by a federal consent decree. ALCOSAN's capital spending is tracking heavily toward these major infrastructure additions. The authority reported spending $161 million through the end of June against a $376 million capital budget for 2026. Staff noted that the largest recent line items included the first invoice for the Ohio River Tunnel and the construction phase startup of a wet weather pump station. To accommodate the ongoing Ohio River Tunnel project, the board also approved underground utility relocation agreements, including a $16,647 payment to Zayo to relocate fiber optic lines and a permanent utility easement for Verizon Pennsylvania LLC to reroute telecommunication facilities. Additionally, the board approved $516,036 in combined change orders for general contractor Kokosing Construction and electrical contractor Wellington Power on the CSO Bypass and Disinfection project. Staff noted that a portion of these costs stemmed from a May 2026 flooding event at the ALCOSAN plant that damaged equipment and poles.