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. Press Releases
  5. PWSA Expands Customer Assistance Programs

PWSA Expands Customer Assistance Programs

Simplified enrollment and expanded access to reduce your PGH2O bill.
Learn about assistance programs for income-qualified customers at Pgh2o.com/CAP.

Pittsburgh, PA — The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority’s (PWSA) enhanced Customer Assistance Programs offer more discounts to more customers than ever before with a simplified and accessible process for enrollment.

Among the highlights of these new benefits, the Bill Discount program will include an additional 50% discount on water usage charges for very low-income customers, and all customers enrolled in the Program will automatically receive an 85% discount on the stormwater charge. The monthly credit on past due balances will double from $15 to $30 for on-time payments made by customers who are enrolled in the Bill Discount Program and on an active payment plan. We expanded the Hardship Grant Program to include sewage-only customers, and all confirmed low-income customers are now automatically enrolled in the Winter Shutoff Moratorium. Lastly, reconnection fees for all customers will continue to be waived in 2022.

Start by calling our PGH2O Cares team at 412-255-2457. They will determine if you qualify and will help you get the assistance you need.

“No one should have to choose between paying their water bill and other essential expenses,” said Will Pickering, PWSA Chief Executive Officer. “These enhancements to our assistance programs will reduce bills for our most vulnerable customers as PWSA continues to deliver high-quality water, sewer, and stormwater services.”

The PGH2O Cares team, a group of education and outreach professionals, established in 2021 will continue the essential work of building awareness and increasing enrollment in our assistance programs. With more than 5,000 customers now enrolled in our Bill Discount Program, the Cares team will continue this important outreach work throughout 2022.

Customer Assistance Programs offer the following:

The Bill Discount Program is available to customers earning an annual income that is at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). 

  • The first 1,000 gallons of water are free. Eligible customers receive a 100% discount on their fixed monthly drinking and wastewater conveyance charges. This is a savings of approximately $35.09 per month. 
  • An 85% reduction on the new stormwater fee provides an additional savings of $5.07.
  • An additional 50% discount on the volumetric charges (the usage charges over the first 1,000 gallons) for customers earning an annual income that is at or below 50% of the FPL.
  • A monthly $30 credit to reduce past due balances. Customers must be enrolled in the Bill Discount Program, on an active payment plan, and make on-time monthly payments to receive this benefit.
  • All confirmed low-income customers are now automatically enrolled in the Winter Shut Off Moratorium.
  • Enrollment is applicable for two years.

The Bill Discount Program applies to renters when the tenant is the responsible billing party. 

Flexible Payments Plans are income-based payment arrangements to help customers pay down high balances without accruing penalties and interest. We also offer special payment arrangements for small business owners.

Arrearage Forgiveness enables customers to pay down past due balances faster. A $30 monthly credit is allotted for each on-time payment for customers who are on an active payment plan and enrolled in the Bill Discount Program.

Winter Moratorium provides qualifying customers with the assurance that their water will not be shut off from December 1 through March 31 if they are unable to pay their bill. The Winter Shut Off Moratorium is available to single-family residential customers earning an annual income that is at or below 300% of the FPL.

Hardship Grant Program provides cash grants up to $300 per year for customers who are at or below 150% of the FPL. Grants are now available to PWSA’s sewage-only customers to apply to past-due wastewater charges. No sincere effort of payment is required to receive this grant.

We have currently distributed more than $165,000 through this program and have helped more than 630 Pittsburgh households maintain essential water services from April 2018 through September 2021.

Lead Service Line Replacement Reimbursement Program; contact Lead Help at 412-255-8987, via email to LeadHelp@pgh2o.com, or visit our website at lead.pgh2o.com/leadreimbursement. 

2022 Income qualification table for Customer Assistance Programs

Additional Assistance Programs

In addition to our direct programs available through Dollar Energy Fund, additional assistance programs are available through other agencies that help to further reduce the financial burden of utility bills. These include the ALCOSAN Clean Water Assistance Fund, the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP), and the Allegheny County Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP).

To learn more about our customer assistance programs, visit pgh2o.com/cap to review the information online or print a pdf version of our flyer (available in Chinese, Spanish, and Tigrinya). To enroll, call Dollar Energy Fund at 866-762-2348 or contact PGH2O Cares at 412-255-2457 or cares@pgh2o.com.

Print This Page
Share
  • email
  • twitter
  • facebook

Related Press Releases

Water Workshop 2025

Press Release

Pittsburgh Water Announces Return of Immersive 'Water Workshop' on June 18

06/11/2025 -
Launched as a series in 2024, this year's Water Workshop attendees can expect an even deeper dive into their sewer and stormwater systems.
Young and old hands with water glass

Press Release

Pittsburgh Water Files Rate Request Driven by $84.4 Million Water System Investment

06/04/2025 -
Request submitted to PA Public Utility Commission reinforces utility’s commitment to safe, reliable water services for customers now and in the future

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