The Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority is set to purchase the Millvale water system for $1.55 million in an effort to temper the cost of upcoming infrastructure improvement projects. Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Millvale Council President James Porter made the announcement in the Millvale Council Chambers this morning.

"We have to find unique ways, as government officials, to be efficient," Mr. Ravenstahl said. "We're confident we can provide the residents of Millvale with high quality water service."

Millvale Council will likely approve the takeover at its meeting on Tuesday, and the PWSA will accept the terms of the agreement on July 31. After that, officials hope to complete the takeover in 90 days, PWSA Executive Director Michael Kenney said.

But PWSA's acquisition of the Millvale water system will likely increase costs for Millvale residents, at least initially. The average Millvale resident now pays $27.50 per month for water; after the switch to service directly from PWSA, they will pay on average $5 more per month. Still, Mr. Kenney said, the rate increase would be significantly higher for Millvale residents if Millvale had to pay for its own construction projects to improve the water system in the borough.