Brave Compressor Station circa 1940s

Sukhwindar Singh, Director of Education and Training

The village of Brave is a tiny hamlet on the banks of Dunkard Creek in southwestern Pennsylvania.

About 100 years ago, Peoples Natural Gas Company of Pittsburgh decided this community was suitable for the largest gas compressor station in the world.  The compressor remained in operation from 1906 to 1959.  Two dams were created by People’s Natural Gas and other amenities were added including public water, public sewer, telephone service, an elementary school and an ice plant.   Today Brave is considered a census-designated place in Wayne Township, Greene County Pennsylvania.  It lies in Pennsylvania’s southwestern corner near the West Virginia Border. As of 2010, the population was 201 with about 80 household connections.

The Brave Wastewater Treatment Plant provides service to the village of Brave in Wayne Township, Pennsylvania  with a service area of approximately two miles. The biggest concern of the Authority is the condition of the treatment plant and collection system.

Brave Brass Fittings Plant without Compressor Station, 2015

The Brave Water Authority serves approximately 200 persons and purchases water from the Morgantown Utility Board, which draws raw water from the Monongahela River and Cobun Creek Reservoir. The Morgantown Utility Board is responsible for providing the primary water treatment of water and monitoring of water quality.

This community has faced some serious challenges which prompted them to ask for RCAP’s assistance.  Greene County has been working steadily to keep the system moving forward and many personnel from the county level have expended time and efforts here.  The county also requested RCAP technical assistance.  RCAP is just beginning work here, so technical assistance tasks and roles are being identified.  Currently RCAP staff are assisting the utility with preserving their maps and generating data sets of their water and sewer system that allow the manager/operator to develop an overall asset inventory of his system.  RCAP staff will also be assisting the system to remain financially viable through ongoing assistance related to budgeting and financial management.  Most recently, RCAP staff have also assisted the system to identify a state-certified auditor to assist on financial audits.  The system has slowly made improvements to the wastewater system and they are looking at improvements to the water system including tank painting and meter replacement.  Outcomes of this RCAP technical assistance to this small system are improved public health, improved economic vitality, and empowerment to the system manager, board and community.