The Pennsylvania branch of Aqua has finalized a deal to purchase the Greenville Sanitary Authority Wastewater System in Mercer County for $18 million. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approved this deal.

The system currently serves Greenville Borough, Hempfield and West Salem townships ushering in a new lot of 2,600 customers with this acquisition.

Aqua Pennsylvania plans to invest a further $20 million into system improvements to resolve the safety, operational and environmental deficiencies such as dechlorination, plant ventilation, insufficient backup power and permit compliance.

“Our expertise affords us the knowledge to provide necessary improvements at a fraction of the cost that would otherwise have been borne by the authority and its customers,” said Marc Lucca, the President of Aqua Pennsylvania.

According to Aqua Pennsylvania, the cost of these improvements is half the price of what Greenville Sanitary Authority had planned to spend to address a Consent Order Agreement from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

Aqua states that customers' base rates will not change after Aqua takes over the system. Those searching for help paying their sewer bills and who are eligible can look into Aqua's Customer Assistance Program for low-income customers.

This makes four water and wastewater acquisitions from Essential Utilities, the owner of Aqua, in just 12 months.

As the system changes hands customers can expect to receive mail from Aqua outlining their different procedures and service schedule.