Report on the Acquisition of the Beaver Falls Wastewater System and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

A subsidiary of Essential Utilities Inc., Aqua Pennsylvania, has finalized the acquisition of the City of Beaver Falls’ wastewater system for $37.75 million. This strategic transaction, approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission, aligns with several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those concerning infrastructure, clean water, and sustainable communities.

A Public-Private Partnership for Sustainable Goals (SDG 17)

The acquisition exemplifies a successful public-private partnership, a core tenet of SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. The collaboration between municipal and state officials and a private utility aims to deliver a sustainable, long-term solution for the region’s wastewater management.

Key Stakeholders in the Partnership:

• The City of Beaver Falls
• Aqua Pennsylvania (Essential Utilities Inc.)
• The Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission

This regionalization approach is designed to bring enhanced operational expertise and financial stability, ensuring long-term benefits for the community and advancing shared sustainability objectives.

Investment in Resilient Infrastructure (SDG 9)

Aqua Pennsylvania has committed to significant capital investment, directly supporting SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. The plan includes a $10 million investment over the next decade to build resilient and modern infrastructure.

Planned Infrastructure Improvements:

1. Repair and replacement of critical sections of the sewer collection system to prevent failures and environmental contamination.
2. Upgrades to the treatment plant headworks and filter tower to enhance processing capacity and efficiency.
3. Improvements to the pump station to ensure reliable system operation.

These investments are crucial for modernizing the system and ensuring its long-term operational viability and safety.

Enhancing Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6)

The primary objective of this acquisition is to improve wastewater management, which is central to SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation. The planned upgrades will significantly improve the system’s operational efficiency and its ability to meet and exceed environmental compliance standards.

As stated by Aqua Pennsylvania President Marc Lucca, the focus on delivering “high-quality, continuous service” and the planned investments will ensure dependable service and protect local water ecosystems for years to come, contributing directly to the goal of clean water and sanitation for all.

Fostering Sustainable Communities and Social Equity (SDG 11 & SDG 10)

This initiative contributes to the development of a more sustainable and resilient urban environment, in line with SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities. Reliable wastewater infrastructure is a cornerstone of a healthy and functional city.

Customer Impact and Commitment to Reducing Inequalities:

The agreement includes provisions to protect consumers and support vulnerable populations, addressing the principles of SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.

• Customer base rates will not change upon the transition to Aqua Pennsylvania’s operation.
• Any future rate adjustments must undergo a public review process and receive approval from the PUC.
• Eligible customers will have access to the Customer Assistance Program and the Aqua Aid hardship fund, ensuring that essential sanitation services remain affordable for those in need.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

• The article’s central theme is the sale and planned improvement of the City of Beaver Falls’ wastewater system. This directly relates to managing and treating wastewater to ensure sanitation for the community.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

• The article details a planned investment of $10 million for “infrastructure improvements” to the wastewater system. This includes upgrading the treatment plant and repairing the sewer collection system, which is a core component of developing reliable and sustainable infrastructure.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The transfer of the wastewater system is presented as a solution to provide “dependable service” to the community for years to come. The focus on ensuring a basic service like wastewater management for 7,000 customers across eight communities contributes to making these communities more sustainable and resilient.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The article describes a public-private partnership involving the City of Beaver Falls (a public entity), Aqua Pennsylvania (a private utility company), and the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission (a state regulatory body). This collaboration is aimed at achieving a sustainable solution for the region’s wastewater management.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

1. Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… halving the proportion of untreated wastewater… The planned investments are explicitly stated to “significantly improve operational efficiency and environmental compliance.” This directly addresses the goal of improving the quality of wastewater treatment to reduce pollution.
2. Target 6.b: Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management. The article notes that the sale was a multi-year process involving the city government and that any future rate changes “must be approved through the PUC with public input,” ensuring a mechanism for community involvement.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

1. Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being… The article highlights Aqua Pennsylvania’s plan to invest “$10 million in infrastructure improvements over the next decade” to ensure “dependable service” for the community, which aligns with developing reliable and sustainable infrastructure.
2. Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure… to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies… The planned “plant upgrades,” including to the “treatment plant headworks and filter tower,” are designed to “improve operational efficiency and environmental compliance,” fitting the description of upgrading infrastructure to be more sustainable and environmentally sound.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services… A wastewater system is a basic service. The article mentions that supporters believed the sale would “reduce costs for the city’s residents” and highlights the availability of the “Customer Assistance Program and its Aqua Aid hardship fund” for eligible customers, addressing the affordability and access aspect of this basic service.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

1. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships… The entire transaction is an example of this target. The article describes the partnership between the “City of Beaver Falls” (public), “Aqua Pennsylvania” (private), and the “Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission” (public regulatory body) to find the “best solution for customers and taxpayers.”

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Indicators for SDG 6 & 9

• Financial Investment in Infrastructure: The article specifies a “$10 million” investment in infrastructure improvements over the next decade. This is a direct financial indicator for progress on Targets 9.1 and 9.4.
• Population Served by Safely Managed Sanitation Services: The article states the system serves “3,200 customers in Beaver Falls and another 3,800 in seven other communities,” for a total of 7,000 customers. The improvement in service for this population is a key indicator for Target 6.3.
• Level of Environmental Compliance: The stated goal to “significantly improve… environmental compliance” implies that compliance levels are a measurable indicator for Targets 6.3 and 9.4.

Indicators for SDG 11

• Proportion of Population with Access to Basic Services: The article confirms continued service for 7,000 customers.
• Availability of Financial Assistance: The existence of the “Customer Assistance Program and its Aqua Aid hardship fund” is an indicator of measures taken to ensure affordability (Target 11.1). The number of households using this assistance would be a more specific metric.

Indicators for SDG 17

• Value of Public-Private Partnership: The article provides clear financial figures that quantify the partnership: the sale was completed for “$37.75 million,” and the private partner committed to a further “$10 million” in investment. These figures serve as indicators of the financial resources mobilized through the partnership (Target 17.17).

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: timesonline.com