06/23/2026
Last night a special meeting of West Pittston Tomorrow was held to discuss ongoing flood mitigation efforts. During the meeting, residents discussed the status of flood protection efforts for the Borough of West Pittston. It was noted that approximately $257,000 was spent on a feasibility study to evaluate flood protection options for the borough. The resulting report was completed, presented publicly, and remains available on the borough’s website.
Attendees expressed concern that despite the completion of the study and presentation, no subsequent public meetings have been held in the six years since the report was issued. During that same period, approximately $3.6 million in grant funding has been awarded to the borough.
Residents requested an update on the current status of flood protection planning, implementation efforts, and the use of available funding. There was a general sentiment that progress has stalled and that obtaining information about the project’s status has been difficult. Attendees emphasized the need for greater transparency, improved communication, and a clear understanding of the next steps toward providing meaningful flood protection for the community.
The meeting also included discussion of interim flood mitigation measures. Residents questioned why an inflatable levee system, which had been presented as a potential option at a public meeting in 2018, was not pursued. Participants noted that while permanent flood protection projects may require substantial funding and significant time to complete, an inflatable levee could potentially provide protection for many residents from the smaller flooding events that regularly cause property damage within the borough. Attendees expressed interest in understanding whether this option remains viable and whether it could serve as a temporary measure while long-term flood protection solutions are developed and implemented.
It was also noted that a Right-to-Know request seeking information related to flood protection efforts and project progress is currently pending. Residents expressed hope that the request will provide additional information regarding actions taken since the completion of the feasibility study, the status of available grant funding, and any plans currently under consideration for protecting the borough from future flooding.
