O’Hara applies for grants to help alleviate stormwater issues

Tawnya Panizzi | Monday, July 20, 2020 3:25 p.m.

Patrick Varine | Tribune-Review

O’Hara is applying for state grants to build retention ponds similar to this one in Washington Township. O’Hara officials said retention ponds would reduce sediment and erosion of Squaw Run stream.

O’Hara is seeking nearly $750,000 in grants to ease stormwater issues across the township.

Council is applying for three separate grants from the state’s Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund to address problems along Gamma Drive, Powers Run Road and Epsilon Drive.

If approved, the money would be funneled through the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County.

Township Engineer Chuck Steinert expects final approval this fall.

Council is eyeing $237,384 for work along Gamma Drive and $355,044 for work along Epsilon, both pollutant-reduction projects.

“The money would pay for stormwater retention facilities, which would reduce the sediment and erosion of Squaw Run,” Steinert said.

There would be an expected benefit to homes along North and South Margery drives, and Fox Chapel Road, if the creek could be kept from overflowing, he said.

A $150,000 grant application for Powers Run would provide similar benefits through stream channel restoration.

“The stormwater pipe is undersized and overflows every time it rains,” Steinert said. “It creates a washout where the stream meets Freeport Road.”

Work would target a specific location in the 900 block of Powers Run.

Just last week, O’Hara council said it would seek nearly $300,000 through the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN) as reimbursement for sewer work done in recent years, also along Powers Run Road.

The project included manhole to manhole lining to prevent infiltration.

If approved, the money would come through ALCOSAN’s Green Revitalization of Our Waterways (GROW) program which aims to reduce water flow into the sewer system.