PWSA To Begin Stormwater Improvement Project in Phillips Park

New systems will help reduce flooding and basement backups in area.

 

Pittsburgh, PA - Today, The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) Board of Directors approved funding for an approximately $500,000 stormwater management project to take place in Phillips Park, in the Carrick neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh. This project is in response to localized flooding and basement backup complaints dating back to summer of 2018.“Our engineering team has been collecting information on rainfall patterns, the state of our sewer system, and the layout of this neighborhood for several months and we are now prepared to implement a stormwater management system that will reduce flooding and basement backups for our customers in the neighborhood,” PWSA Executive Director Robert A. Weimar said.

Rendering of the stormwater retention system to be installed in Phillips Park. Rendering of the stormwater retention system to be installed in Phillips Park.

PWSA’s engineering team has designed a stormwater retention system located along the walking trails in the park, capturing and holding back stormwater during heavy rainfall. This water will then be slowly released back into the sewers so it can be properly conveyed through the sewer system, reducing basement backups and surface flooding. Flow monitors, sensors that track volume of rain moving through sewers, will be installed in nearby sewers to track the effectiveness of the stormwater system. 

In addition to the new stormwater management systems, the project will remove the existing asphalt path from Lucina Avenue to the new stairway leading out of the park. This will reduce impervious surface in the park. Cobblestone lined swales, or depressions, will be dug to retain stormwater near the stairway. These improvements will reduce impervious surface in the park, helping to absorb the stormwater naturally. 

"This is a win-win for the residents of Carrick, that both addresses nearby flooding issues and leads to an improved Phillips Park. I want to thank the PWSA for this work," Councilman Anthony Coghill said

Work will begin in September and is expected to be completed in November of this year. Construction will occur Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The following trails will be closed to allow for PWSA contractors to complete work: 

  • Dilly’s Grove (Stinton Avenue – Park Boulevard)
  • Yale Connector Trail (Carousel Trail – Lucina Avenue)

After construction, PWSA will evaluate the project's effectiveness and determine if additional stormwater management is needed. To learn more about PWSA’s Green Stormwater Program, visit our Green Stormwater Projects page.