Press Release

Pittsburgh, PA – As Allegheny County moves into the yellow phase of reopening and “Stay at Home Orders” are adjusted, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) will resume its planned construction projects. 

Water mains, stormwater management systems, and other large-scale work will take place to ensure reliable service for customers. Throughout the shut-down, PWSA worked closely with construction firms, City departments, and other utilities to reassess work plans and prepare COVID-19 safety protocols for when construction could resume.  

Some of the projects beginning in May and June are as follows:  

Lead Service Line Replacement: PWSA will continue to replace lead water service lines throughout the water service area to reduce exposure to lead in drinking water. This contract began in early 2019 and still has approximately 700 lead service lines to replace to complete the work. When a private lead service line is found connected to a public lead line, PWSA will replace it at no cost to the homeowner. To date, PWSA has replaced nearly 7,000 lead service lines throughout the water service area. Visit lead.pgh2o.com for more.  

Highland Park – Restoration of Reservoir Wall: Restoration of the Highland I Reservoir parapet wall was one of the few critical infrastructure projects to continue during the COVID-19 lockdown. Over the past few months, crews completed demolition and poured the remaining parts of the concrete wall. They are now completing the installation of the railing and are coordinating with the City Department of Public Works on the work needed to repave the walkway around the Reservoir. The restoration will prevent most wildlife from wading into the reservoir, improves the overall safety of this source of drinking water, and enhances the overall appearance of this public amenity. Visit pgh2o.com/highland-i-reservoir-security-improvements for more. 

Saw Mill Run Stream Restoration: This project focuses on restoring two sites within the stream in the Overbrook neighborhood. The low wall of boulders installed along the base of the stream and new, healthy vegetation will stabilize the banks of Saw Mill Run and slow the flow of fast moving water. When complete, it will stabilize the stream bank, help to reduce pollutants from entering the stream, and improve water quality in Saw Mill Run. Visit pgh2o.com/SawMillRun for more.  

Volunteers Field Stormwater Project: Crews will soon plant the vegetation needed to complete the recently installed rain garden in Volunteers Field. Its stone basin, sandy soil, and vegetation work together to allow water to absorb into the ground. It will help to reduce stormwater runoff and filter pollutants from rainwater. Visit pgh2o.com/VolunteersField for more. 

Greystone Drive Water Main Replacement Project: This project, in the Highland Park neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh, will replace approximately 550 feet of aging water main, providing more reliable water service to residents. This site was scheduled for replacement after several water main breaks occurred over the past year. Visit pgh2o.com/GreystoneDrive for more. 

Street and Sidewalk Restoration: After water or sewer work occurs, sites are temporarily restored, and a separate team of concrete and asphalt crews return at a later date for full restoration. Construction restrictions that went into place in March of this year delayed this effort approximately two months. For this reason, some customers will have to wait longer than anticipated for patches near their homes or businesses to be fully restored. To keep up with increased infrastructure work and meet demand after construction delays, PWSA will have 12 crews mobilized throughout the service area to lay concrete and asphalt. For more information on this project, including a weekly schedule, visit pgh2o.com/paving. 

PWSA and its contractors are following strict guidelines established by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Pennsylvania Department of Health related to the pandemic during all construction work. The following measures are to protect the health of our employees, contractors, and customers. As long as it is recommended by the CDC and PA Department of Health, all work will occur under the following guidelines:  

• All workers will undergo daily health screenings prior to reporting to work.  
• All employees will maintain social distancing in the execution of their work, including when communicating with customers.  
• All employees will wear face masks during their work.  
• All work surfaces our workers are in contact with will be sanitized prior to leaving the work site.  
• All work sites will be provided with portable hand-wash facilities or hand sanitizer.  

Although delays have impacted 2020 construction schedules, PWSA will continue to implement its over $200 million capital improvement program to ensure safe and reliable service for customers. To learn more about all PWSA projects, find contact info for local construction work, and to visit the Search All Projects page, visit pgh2o.com.