Highland Reservoir Pump Station Now Operational, Marking Major Leap Forward in Pittsburgh’s Water Reliability

Major infrastructure milestone completed approximately $3 million under budget while strengthening reliability for two-thirds of customers.
Exterior Photo of the Highland Reservoir Pump Station, a large, red brick building

May 20, 2026

Pittsburgh, PA - Pittsburgh Water announced that the Highland Reservoir Pump Station is now operational, delivering a major boost to system reliability and marking one of the most significant infrastructure milestones in nearly two decades. 

As the first new water facility built by Pittsburgh Water in almost 20 years, the pump station represents a critical step forward in the organization’s Water Reliability Plan – a once-in-a-generation effort to modernize the system and strengthen service for customers across the city. 

“This is a transformational moment for our water system,” said Will Pickering, CEO of Pittsburgh Water. “The Highland Reservoir Pump Station gives us the strength, flexibility, and redundancy we need to deliver safe, reliable water every day, while preparing our system for the future. This is what long-term investment in our infrastructure looks like.” 

Completed for approximately $3 million under its original budget, the project reflects Pittsburgh Water’s commitment to both strong infrastructure and responsible stewardship of ratepayer dollars. Construction supported hundreds of jobs and generated significant economic impact across the region. 

“This project is a major investment in Pittsburgh’s future,” said Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O’Connor. “Reliable infrastructure is essential to building strong neighborhoods and a city where families and businesses can thrive. The Highland Reservoir Pump Station strengthens our water system today while helping prepare Pittsburgh for the future.”

A map of the Pittsburgh Water service area showing the portion served by the Highland Reservoir 1 system

Now online, the pump station supports water service for approximately two-thirds of Pittsburgh Water customers and provides up to 56 million gallons per day of additional pumping capacity to the Highland 1 Service Area. By strengthening system redundancy, the facility helps reduce the risk of service interruptions and low-pressure events that can lead to boil water advisories.

The project also lays essential groundwork for the future replacement of the system’s century-old Clearwell, ensuring Pittsburgh Water can continue delivering uninterrupted service while modernizing one of its most critical assets. 

“Projects like the Highland Reservoir Pump Station don’t happen in isolation,” said Rachael Beam, Chief Engineering Officer at Pittsburgh Water. “We worked closely with the community throughout this process to ensure the project not only strengthens our system but fits thoughtfully within the setting of the park and the neighborhood. That collaboration is essential to delivering infrastructure that serves people well for decades to come.” 

The Highland Reservoir Pump Station is a cornerstone of Pittsburgh Water’s broader infrastructure investments, focused on strengthening system reliability, improving resilience, and delivering high-quality drinking water for customers now and into the future.