As we usher in 2025, Pittsburgh Water is reflecting on our commitment to our community and the environment. 

Guided by the One Water approach, we resolve to continue as responsible stewards of our most valuable resource – water – and to support a resilient future for our region.

One Water is an approach to managing water throughout the entire water cycle. It asks us to consider the many ways water exists in our lives, whether that’s from the tap, a stream, a storm, or a sewer. Looked at through this lens, the One Water approach can change the way we live, the opportunities we have, our environment, and our society.

Why does One Water matter to Pittsburgh? Every part of the water cycle is connected. When it rains or snows, stormwater rolls off our roofs into downspouts and storm drains, across streets and sidewalks, yards, work sites, and parks. As it moves, it picks up anything along the way, from trash to pet waste, to leaking oil from a car. Stormwater enters waterways and our sewer system.

All water eventually returns to the rivers, and as the actions of those upstream impact our drinking water source, the Allegheny, our actions here in Pittsburgh affect the health of the water flowing downstream. 

The complex nature of our relationship with water requires us to take a comprehensive, long view with our infrastructure planning. It requires thinking about the whole system, our whole community, and tomorrow. 

It’s why, for instance, we work hard to repair and modernize our sewers, reducing pollution entering our streams and rivers. We’re dedicated to these infrastructure improvements today because we know they will benefit Pittsburghers tomorrow. 

As a publicly owned and managed municipal authority, every dollar supports our commitment to providing safe water and reliable water infrastructure.