High-quality. Affordable. Sustainable. That’s why Pittsburgh Drinks Tap!
Pittsburghers have a lot to be proud of — and that includes our tap water. As your public drinking water provider, we’re committed to delivering high‑quality water you can trust, straight to your tap. That’s why spending extra money on bottled water is simply unnecessary.
The difference is clear: bottled water often faces less regulatory scrutiny than tap water, is more expensive, and contributes to excess pollution.
As a Pittsburgh Water customer, you can be confident that your tap water is an all-around better choice than bottled water. It meets higher quality standards. It’s more affordable. And it’s better for the environment.
Pittsburgh Water meets higher quality standards than bottled.
Not all water is regulated equally.
Unlike bottled water, which is typically regulated as a packaged food product, public tap water must meet stricter federal and state requirements.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets mandatory standards for public water systems like ours under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) provides another level of scrutiny, with regulations and guidelines that are, in many cases, even more stringent than federal regulations.
Water packaged in plastic bottles can also contain higher levels of water-borne microplastics and nanoplastics, microscopic bits of plastic that can enter the body and bloodstream, with potential health implications that still aren't entirely understood.
Pittsburgh Water is also committed to transparency, with an easy-to-find Annual Drinking Water Quality Report outlining our optimized treatment processes and adherence to regulatory standards that often exceed requirements, providing a level of detail you won't find with most bottled water providers!
Pittsburgh Water is more affordable than buying bottled.
Bottled water is expensive. Tap is pennies.
The actual consumption cost that Pittsburgh Water customers pay for their tap water is just pennies per gallon.
Compare that to bottled water, which can range from $4 to $7 per case (often more for imported or specialty brands) or even multiple dollars per bottle when sold individually! Even if you choose to filter your tap water for taste, the associated cost is still dramatically lower than relying on bottled water.
You may not realize this but what you’re paying for with bottled water is plastic packaging, transportation and marketing. Behind the label are added costs that are passed on to you as the consumer. The marketing also leads you to believe that you are receiving a superior product, but many brands of bottled water use treated municipal tap water – no different than what Pittsburgh Water brings to your home or business every day.
Drinking Pittsburgh Water is better for the environment than bottled.
Every bottle of water has a footprint.
From manufacturing to transportation to disposal, single‑use plastics place a heavy burden on our environment. When you fill a reusable bottle with Pittsburgh tap water, you reduce waste, conserve resources, and help keep our rivers and neighborhoods beautiful.
By drinking tap water, you’re:
- Eliminating hundreds of plastic bottles each year
- Reducing carbon emissions and oil consumption tied to bottling and shipping
- Supporting a cleaner, more sustainable Pittsburgh
Small choices add up — especially when a whole city makes them together.
Pittsburgh Businesses Choose Tap Water
Tap Into the Better Choice
Pittsburgh drinks tap because it’s the smart choice — for our health, our wallets, and our future. Join thousands of neighbors who are choosing high-quality local water every day.
Pour yourself a glass. Fill your bottle. Spread the word.