Meeting customers where they are establishes relationships and shows our commitment to the communities we serve

Pittsburgh, PA - More than 100 curious customers attended the Water Workshops hosted by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) this past June. This series of five workshops, taking place in the Northside, Mt. Washington, Hill District, East End, and Hazelwood neighborhoods, aimed to build greater awareness and confidence in the quality and safety of the drinking water you rely on every day.

Based on feedback from attendees and the conversations we had with customers during the workshops, many appreciated that we took the time to come to their neighborhoods to talk about their water services, the progress we've made to remove lead service lines and upgrade our water system. They were surprised to also learn about all that's involved in the water treatment process and the level of testing that's needed to deliver safe, high quality drinking water to homes and businesses.

During the meeting in the Hill District, one resident commented, "I would have never known how much progress PWSA has made over the years if I didn't come to this meeting. We're glad you made the time to talk to us today."

"We're grateful for the many customers who joined us for the water workshops this summer," said PWSA CEO Will Pickering. "We're excited to share our vision for renewing Pittsburgh's water system so you, your children, and grandchildren can count on these services for years to come."

Representatives from PWSA were on-hand to lend support and answer questions during each Water Workshop. Attendees had the opportunity to meet representatives from the Water Treatment Plant, Environmental Compliance, Engineering, Public Affairs, and our PGH2O Cares team, a group of education and outreach specialists dedicated to bolstering enrollment in our customer assistant programs. Additionally, they participated in fun, interactive water quality activities, including a color-changing pH experiment, jars with water samples representing the water treatment process, a water taste station, and storyboards highlighting the steps of the water treatment process and water distribution system.

Frank Sidari, Chief Environmental Compliance & Ethics Officer opened the presentation describing our role as mindful stewards of our water system and the essential nature of the services we provide for current and future generations of customers. He also touched upon a variety of initiatives and priorities that are important to the quality, safety, and reliability of your drinking water.

The presentation included:

• An overview of the water treatment process starting with the initial intake from the Allegheny River to clean water flowing through your tap, and the rigorous testing done by our Water Quality team.
• An introduction to the Water Reliability Plan. This comprehensive series of once-in-a-generation projects will provide a resilient and redundant water system across our service area.
• Progress on lead. We're leading the way to reduce lead levels by removing public and private lead service lines, introducing orthophosphate into our system, with most recent testing continuing to trend low.

Bottled vs. Tap

Some community members expressed skepticism towards tap water and preferences towards bottled water. After a brief poll on the audiences' favorite glacial, mountain, and spring water brands, Sidari offered a new perspective on the transparency offered by using tap water. Unlike tap water, bottled water is generally subject to fewer regulations and testing requirements. Additionally, tap water is less expensive, creates less waste, and is better for the environment than bottled water.

Still have questions about your drinking water? Read more in PWSA's 2023 Water Quality Report. These regulatory requirements are set by the Environmental Protection Agency and our reports show that the water you rely on daily meets or exceeds all standards. This annual report outlines the water treatment process, the effectiveness of our water quality testing, and the results of the various contaminants found in the Allegheny River, our source drinking water.

In case you missed it

If you were unable to attend a Water Workshop in-person, you can view a recording of the June 20th event on YouTube by the City of Pittsburgh's City Channel Pittsburgh. The video showcases Frank Sidari's Trust the Tap presentation and concluded with a robust Q&A session with the audience.

PWSA Water Workshop

We look forward to ongoing engagements with our customers and communities served. If you would like us to attend one of your events, present at a community meeting, or speak to your group about our customer assistance programs or water services, please visit our Request Us at an Event page. We are happy to connect with you.