Every day, our team works to deliver something essential to every home, business, and neighborhood we serve: clean, safe, reliable drinking water. As we launch our new “Pittsburgh Drinks Tap” campaign, I want to take a moment to explain why this effort matters—and why choosing tap water is one of the simplest and most impactful decisions we can make as a community. 

This campaign is centered around three core benefits of drinking the tap water we provide: it is held to higher safety and quality standards than bottled water, it is far more affordable, and it is a much more sustainable choice for our environment. 

Quality 

Public tap water is subject to rigorous oversight and some of the strongest regulatory requirements in the country. Our treatment processes, water quality monitoring protocols, and continuous testing far exceed what is required of bottled water, which is typically regulated as a packaged consumer good rather than a public resource. From the moment water enters our treatment plants to the moment it reaches your tap, it is carefully managed and monitored by dedicated professionals focused on one thing: protecting public health. Pittsburgh Water is extremely proud of the strides we’ve made over the past decade regarding the world-class safety and quality of our drinking water. Through facility and infrastructure modernization, lead line replacements, and continuous optimization of our water treatment processes, our drinking water regularly outperforms even the strictest regulations. See for yourself the strides we’ve made in water quality and why you can have the utmost confidence in your tap water in our latest Consumer Confidence Report. 

Affordability 

Equally important is access and affordability. At a time when many households are feeling financial pressure, Pittsburgh Water remains focused on keeping our critical water services as affordable as possible. A gallon of bottled water can cost hundreds of times more than the same amount of water from the tap, which, when broken down, amounts to just pennies per gallon. By choosing tap, customers receive high‑quality drinking water at a fraction of the cost, while also supporting the long‑term maintenance and improvement of our public water system—not private profit. It’s a simple way to save money without sacrificing quality. For more information on our Customer Assistance Programs, or to see if you qualify, visit www.pgh2o.com/cap. 

Sustainability 

Finally, choosing tap water supports a cleaner, more sustainable Pittsburgh. Single‑use plastic bottles contribute significantly to waste and pollution, clogging storm drains, polluting our waterways, and piling up everywhere from sidewalks to wooded areas. Plastic bottles also require energy to produce, transport, and dispose of, leading to additional costs and environmental impacts. By choosing Pittsburgh Water and reusable bottles, each of us can reduce our environmental footprint and help preserve the natural resources and waterways that make our region unique. Small daily choices—when made across an entire city—create meaningful, lasting impact. 

This campaign is more than a message. It’s an invitation to take pride in the essential service we provide and in the progress we’ve made as a public utility. It’s also a reflection of the trust our community places in us every day, a trust we work hard to uphold. 

As we share Pittsburgh Drinks Tap with the community, I want to recognize the dedication and expertise of our entire team. From our operators and engineers to our customer service representatives and field crews, every employee plays a role in delivering high-quality water to the people of Pittsburgh. 

We will continue investing in our system, strengthening our infrastructure, and upholding the highest standards of quality and transparency. Our work is ongoing, but our commitment is unwavering: to provide safe, affordable, and sustainable drinking water—today and for generations to come. 

To explore more about what makes Pittsburgh tap water a great choice, visit pgh2o.com/DrinkTap.