PWSA Receives Prestigious Gold Award from the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies

Recognizes progress and commitment to delivery of safe, reliable water services for current and future generations of customers

Pittsburgh, PA -Recognized for its mission to protect public health and the environment, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) proudly accepted the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies' (AMWA) Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance.

Following years of hard work and dedication, PWSA was recognized at the national level for its remarkable stewardship of an essential public resource - your water. With lead levels at historic lows, increased investment to strengthen and modernize its water system, and an organizational culture that protects the health and well-being of its customers, the Gold Award recognizes PWSA's transformative journey to become a high-performing, trusted public water utility.

"It is an honor to be recognized by industry leaders and receive this distinguished award," said PWSA CEO Will Pickering. "It is the culmination of many achievements that together provide our customers with safe, reliable water services," he stated. "I want to acknowledge our employees and leadership for their unwavering allegiance to the people of Pittsburgh who we serve every day," he said.

Who We Are

As a non-profit, publicly owned and operated water authority, PWSA is committed to the Pittsburgh community and its surrounding region of more than 500,000 residents. Every dollar we receive is reinvested back into the services our customers rely on. We are recognized as an industry leader in lead pipe remediation, ambitious infrastructure projects, and providing high-quality services to our customers.

Accomplishments Include:

• Annual Water Quality Reports consistently show that we meet and exceed all regulatory standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
• Our multi-million dollar lead safety and remediation Community Lead Response is nationally applauded for its comprehensiveness and prioritization model, providing our most at-risk populations with lead service line replacements first. Since 2016, we have replaced nearly 12,000 lead service lines and are on track to have all replaced by 2027.
• With the addition of orthophosphate to our treatment process, lead levels have decreased drastically and are now at record lows.
• We are transforming our water system through a series of once-in-a-generation projects known as the Water Reliability Plan. These projects will happen sequentially and fortify our drinking water system for generations to come.
• Since 2018, PWSA has received $783 million from state and federal funding partners. External funding expedites the replacement of lead service lines and supports the implementation of our $1.8 billion capital improvement program. These grants and low-interest loans reduce the burden on ratepayers saving them millions of dollars over time.
• With more than 7,000 customers enrolled in our Bill Discount Program and our PGH2O Cares team actively educating customers and enrolling them into our Customer Assistance Programs, we are committed to providing equitable and affordable water services for our most vulnerable populations.

About the Gold Award

The AMWA Gold Award for Exceptional Utility Performance was established in 2001 to recognize member water systems that exhibit high levels of performance. Based on the Ten Attributes of Effectively Managed Water Sector Utilities and the Keys to Management Success (EUM), utilities are selected based on their performance in areas of product quality, customer satisfaction, employee and leadership development, operational optimization, financial viability, community sustainability, enterprise resiliency, infrastructure strategy and performance, stakeholder understanding and support, and water resource sustainability.

With this award, PWSA joins an esteemed group of leading water utilities and is grateful for the recognition received by our peers. Last year, PWSA received the AMWA's inaugural Environmental Justice and Equity Utility Management Award.

"I would like to congratulate PWSA for their remarkable commitment to delivering safe, top-quality drinking water to the Pittsburgh community," said AMWA CEO Tom Dobbins, CAE. "Earning an AMWA award is a testament to their outstanding leadership in managing water utilities, ensuring affordability, and promoting environmental sustainability, all while advancing environmental justice and equitable access to clean water for all."

"Congratulations to PWSA and all its staff for receiving this incredible recognition from the Association of Metropolitan Water Authorities," said PWSA Board Chair Alex Sciulli. "It is a testament to their progress over these past several years and demonstrates their vision for the future - one committed to safeguarding public health and the environment through the delivery of safe, reliable water services," Sciulli stated.