When winter weather strikes, our field teams are ready to jump into action. We are deeply grateful to the Pittsburgh Water team members who faced this winter’s toughest conditions with exceptional dedication. Their steadfast service kept our communities supplied with the essential water services that we all rely on.
How Winter Weather Affects Our System
As temperatures fall below freezing, cold air and frozen soil put extra stress on water mains. The pipe material contracts in extreme temperatures, and shifting soil surrounding it can cause additional movement. Together, these forces increase the likelihood of water main breaks during winter weather. Long-lasting subzero temperatures can also pose additional challenges. The conditions we experienced this winter meant large snowbanks remained on the ground for weeks, obscuring leaks which then don’t become evident until things begin to thaw out. These natural, weather-related impacts can lead to burst mains, frozen or damaged pipes, and other issues that kept our operations team busy throughout the season.
Our Team's Winter Response
To address the impacts of this inclement weather, every member of our Operations team rose to the challenge and remained committed to delivering safe, reliable services to our customers. Beginning the last two weeks of January, when temperatures dropped significantly, and into February, many of our crews were regularly working 16-hour shifts, usually from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. In total, we clocked 3,286 hours of overtime in a four-week period (1/12 to 2/8). When the major snowfall began over the weekend of January 24th to 25th, our backhoe operators worked consistently to keep each of our facilities clear of snow before it had the chance to freeze. This was an important step in making sure we’d be prepared to deploy our crews quickly and safely to respond to any emergency issues.
Thanks to the critical efforts of our crews, we fixed 253 leaks in the first two months of the year. To assist the crews in their response to emergency issues, we ran our salt truck 24/7 during this time, clearing active work sites and applying salt to minor leaks so road conditions remained safe while crews responded. In total, we used about 150 tons of rock salt in January and February. During this time, we reported zero Lost Time Incidents (LTIs) – meaning no employee had to take time off from work due to a workplace injury or illness. This is a clear reflection of how our staff has embraced the Safe People, Safe Water initiative. Our Operations team is committed to making safety a daily priority and is helping us build a strong, safety-focused culture at Pittsburgh Water.
Water Heroes: Keeping Pittsburgh's Taps Flowing!
Pittsburgh Water extends its appreciation to our Operations crews for going above and beyond during this challenging time. Their unwavering commitment to service and excellence is essential to delivering the high‑quality water services our customers deserve. We could not uphold these standards in water quality and reliable delivery without each and every one of our devoted Water Heroes.
