Across approximately 75 percent of Pittsburgh, sewage and stormwater are routed into the same underground sewer pipes. During dry weather, the sewage from buildings flows into these combined sewer pipes and is carried to the wastewater treatment plant to be cleaned then discharged into the river.

When it rains, storm drains on our streets direct the stormwater into the sewer pipes that are already carrying sewage. Excess stormwater can overwhelm the capacity of those pipes, causing some of the combined stormwater and sewage to overflow into the rivers at the sewer outfall. 

Combined sewer overflows, also known as CSOs, make it dangerous to come in contact with river and stream water during overflow events. Combined sewage and stormwater can also back up into basements and surcharge up through manholes when the pipes are overwhelmed, causing public health issues.

PWSA is continuing to enhance our stormwater program to address stormwater management issues such as CSOs, basement sewage backups, stormwater pollution, and flooding. We are using solutions such as sewer improvements and green stormwater infrastructure projects that mimic nature to capture and filter rainwater before it enters sewer pipes. Learn more on our Stormwater webpage.