Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority

Our primary mission is to deliver high-quality, reliable, and abundant municipal water to our customers. We want you to understand our ongoing efforts to enhance water treatment processes and protect our valuable water resources. We are committed to ensuring water quality excellence. If you have questions about this report, please contact the PWSA Water Treatment Plant at 412-782-7552.

PWSA provides water and sewer services to more than 300,000 customers throughout Pittsburgh and surrounding areas, making it Pennsylvania's largest combined water and sewer authority. We produce approximately 70 million gallons of water daily and supply bulk water to Reserve Township, Fox Chapel Area, and Aspinwall Area, while maintaining emergency interconnections with other regional systems.

Our infrastructure includes:

• Approximately 965 miles of water pipes
• Five reservoirs and eleven tanks with 455 million gallon storage capacity
• Over 1,200 miles of sewer lines
• Four booster pumping stations

Water Source and Treatment Process
PWSA draws water exclusively from the Allegheny River - we do not use groundwater or wells. Our treatment plant processes approximately 70 million gallons daily, with capacity exceeding 100 million gallons. The three-stage treatment process includes:

1. Clarification: River water undergoes clarification where silts and clays are removed. Coagulants form clumped particles called "floc" which are removed through gravity sedimentation.
2. Filtration: Clarified water passes slowly through coal and sand filters to remove fine particles and organisms.
3. Disinfection: Filtered water receives chlorine treatment to eliminate harmful organisms. Additional chemicals include sodium carbonate for pH adjustment and fluoride for dental health.

Secondary Treatment at Highland Park
Beyond our primary treatment facility near Aspinwall, PWSA operates a secondary Microfiltration Plant in Highland Park. All water stored in the open-air Highland Tank #1 undergoes initial treatment at our main plant, then receives additional processing through state-of-the-art membrane filtration and chlorination before distribution.

Stormwater Management
Stormwater significantly impacts water quality. Since PWSA draws from the Allegheny River, anything entering storm sewers eventually reaches our water source untreated. The river serves multiple purposes: drinking water source, recreation area for swimming, boating, and fishing.

Our system includes sanitary, dedicated stormwater, and combined sewers. As an older city, only about 25% of Pittsburgh has separate stormwater systems. Residents can help prevent stormwater pollution by:

• Properly disposing of trash and avoiding littering
• Being mindful of car washing locations to prevent soap runoff
• Disposing of pet waste correctly
• Using fertilizers sparingly and avoiding application before rain events
• Preventing and fixing oil leaks

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