Skip to main content

Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority

Home
  • Residential & Commercial Customers
    • Residential & Commercial Customers Overview
    • Account & Billing Info
    • Rates
    • Customer Assistance Programs
    • Service Changes
    • Buying or Selling Property
    • Pipe Ownership
    • Backflow Device Testing
    • Tips, Maintenance & Prevention
  • Developers, Contractors & Vendors
    • Developers, Contractors & Vendors Overview
    • Bids & Opportunities
    • Consultant Outreach
    • Supplier Diversity Program
    • Permits
    • Developer's Manual & Standard Details
    • 2022 Business Development Series
  • Projects & Maintenance
    • Projects & Maintenance Overview
    • Service Outages
    • Search All Projects
    • Planning & Future Projects
    • Construction Projects
    • Water Main Replacement
    • Lead Line Replacement Programs
    • Common Issues & Questions
  • Your Water
    • Your Water Overview
    • Water
    • Water Quality & Treatment
    • Water Reliability Plan
    • Water Equity
    • Sewer
    • Stormwater
    • Our Service Area
    • Lead Information
    • Educational Resources
  • About Us
    • About Us Overview
    • Board & Board Meetings
    • Executive Leadership
    • Mission, Vision and Core Values
    • Tap Into Pittsburgh Water
    • Careers
    • Finance
    • Environmental Compliance
    • Year in Review
    • Rules & Regulations
    • Contact Us
  • News & Events
    • News & Events Overview
    • Press Releases
    • Newsletter Articles
    • Events & Meetings
  • Search

What can we help you find?

Service Outages
Report an Issue
My Account
Don't have an account?
Sign up now
Other ways to pay

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. News & Events
  3. Newsletter & Press
  4. Newsletter Articles
  5. Director's Cut: PWSA elevates need for federal funding

Director's Cut: PWSA elevates need for federal funding

Infrastructure Investment: The time is now!
A smiling mother and daughter

Investing in Pittsburgh’s water infrastructure is an investment in people, the community, and the regional economy. Higher water quality and reduced pollution in our waterways makes this region more desirable to businesses, increases property values, and improves quality of life for everyone in the region. To put it another way, no community can thrive without clean water.  

As the federal government considers the adoption of an infrastructure bill, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority recognizes how that could alleviate the financial burden on our ratepayers by offsetting the cost of the investment we must make over the next several years.   

We are currently embarking upon the largest capital investment in our history. Our capital budget of $1.2 billion will rebuild key components of our water production and distribution systems, replace lead lines, rehabilitate aging sewer pipes, and build innovative stormwater infrastructure. 

These projects will improve water quality, reliability, and safety and it is the first major investment in our infrastructure since our water systems were built a century ago.  

Since the majority of our funding comes from ratepayer dollars, funding from state and federal sources is necessary to reduce the onus on PWSA customers and to more quickly advance our infrastructure investment - especially during a time when these projects can no longer be delayed.   

We have been fortunate, though, to offset some of this cost by using state and federal funding programs. Our Community Lead Response and small-diameter water main replacement projects are prime examples. Since 2018, we have received $160.6 million in low-interest loans or grants from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), which has saved ratepayers a total of $112 million. 

We were also recently invited by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to apply for a Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan. If approved, it would provide 49% of the funding needed for the projects in our Water Reliability Plan.    

Earlier this month, PWSA participated in United for Infrastructure, a national event to raise awareness about our country’s infrastructure needs. We had the opportunity to spotlight our Community Lead Response and join a national panel of water sector innovators to discuss future plans for Pittsburgh’s water infrastructure.  

Within the water industry, there is tremendous momentum to encourage investment from the federal government. An infusion of federal dollars will support overdue improvement projects, reduce the need to increase our rates in the future, and prioritize the families, workers, and businesses that rely on our services each day. PWSA is part of the conversation and is doing its part to elevate awareness about the need for federal investment in Pittsburgh.  

“An infusion of federal dollars will support overdue improvement projects, reduce the need to increase our rates in the future, and prioritize the families, workers, and businesses that rely on our services each day." - Chief Executive Officer, Will Pickering

Print This Page
Share
  • email
  • twitter
  • facebook

Related Newsletters

A woman's hand is seen watering a side yard garden using a hose with a spray nozzle.

Newsletter

Water Wise: Save Water and Money This Summer

07/2025 -
Pittsburgh Water offers helpful advice for using water wisely during these hot summer months.
Chief Engineering Officer Rachael Beam interview

Newsletter

4 The Record: Pittsburgh Water

07/2025 -
CEO Will Pickering and Chief Engineering Officer Rachael Beam talk critical infrastructure projects, importance of water quality, and the One Water Summit taking place this week.

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Media Inquiries

Please call our 24/7 Media Line 412-430-3898 

PGH2O

Contact Us

412-255-2423
Report an Emergency Press 1
Customer Service Press 5

Send us a Message

1200 Penn Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Follow Us

Footer First Column

  • Check Your Usage
  • Update Your Contact Info
  • Service Outages
  • Rules & Regulations
  • Privacy Policy

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Footer Second Column

  • Residential & Commercial Customers
  • Developers, Contractors & Vendors
  • Projects & Maintenance
  • Your Water
  • About Us
  • News & Events
Copyright © 2025 Pittsburgh Water
Powered by Interpersonal Frequency I.F. Logo