Wednesday, February 19, 2025, 5:41AM |  10°
MENU
Advertisement

New day for PWSA: No option should go unconsidered during review

New day for PWSA: No option should go unconsidered during review

The incessant failings of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority are as maddening as the drip, drip, drip from a leaky faucet. On the heels of a two-day boil-water advisory, imposed on about 100,000 Pittsburghers when low chlorine levels triggered concern about giardia contamination, city officials have decided to take a hard look at this sorry agency. It’s about time.

Mayor Bill Peduto announced Friday that he’s creating a panel to study the PWSA’s future. The review will consider the possibility of dividing the agency’s water and sanitary sewer responsibilities and of establishing a public-private partnership to take on at least some of the agency’s work. County Controller Chelsa Wagner condemned the prospect of privatization, but her criticism out of the gate is unwarranted.

PWSA isn’t adequately serving its customers — and hasn’t done so for years. Its blunders include an illegal line warranty program, the hiring of political hacks, storm-water management problems, inaccurate billing, poor customer service and a rebuke from the state for switching treatment chemicals without authorization. Last Tuesday, the state Department of Environmental Protection ordered the boil-water advisory for about half of PWSA’s customers after testing showed that chlorine, which helps to prevent giardia, was below acceptable levels. By Thursday afternoon, the chlorine got to acceptable levels.

Advertisement

The PWSA’s long-term challenges are daunting. The PWSA has to replace lead service lines, as other municipal water authorities do, but it doesn’t even know where many of them are. Kevin Acklin, the mayor’s chief of staff, noted that the PWSA “has accrued nearly a billion dollars in debt and has hundreds of millions in deferred maintenance.” Without a significant course correction, the situation likely will get worse, not better, he said, warning of “skyrocketing water rates and declining water quality.”

While Mr. Acklin said full privatization is not under consideration, no option should go unconsidered during the upcoming review. PWSA consumers, whose rates went up 13 percent this year, cannot be expected to tolerate more dysfunction. Also troubling is the potential image problem. If a city struggles to provide a basic service such as water, outsiders will conclude that it probably doesn’t do much else right, either.

First Published: February 7, 2017, 5:00 a.m.

Advertisement
RELATED
SHOW COMMENTS (0)  
Join the Conversation
Commenting policy | How to Report Abuse
If you would like your comment to be considered for a published letter to the editor, please send it to letters@post-gazette.com. Letters must be under 250 words and may be edited for length and clarity.
Partners
Advertisement
Traffic passes by U.S. Steel in Braddock on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025. An activist investor has accused U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt of potential insider trading as the group pressures investors to support its own plan for the iconic Pittsburgh steelmaker, which includes a new board and abandoning a planned merger with Japan’s Nippon Steel.
1
business
Ancora launches ‘Make U.S. Steel Great Again’ campaign, accuses CEO of insider trading
Gov. Josh Shapiro is joined in the broadcast booth by Curtis Aiken before the start of Pitt-Syracuse on Tuesday night at Petersen Events Center.
2
sports
Governor Josh Shapiro aims to make Pennsylvania 'compete' in NIL, bring 'stability' to transfer portal
President Donald Trump listens as Elon Musk speaks in the Oval Office at the White House, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (Photo/Alex Brandon)
3
news
McCormick on board with Trump, DOGE shakeup while Fetterman blasts 'chaos, confusion'
The WPIAL basketball playoffs are underway.
4
sports
WPIAL boys basketball playoffs: Down go the Highlanders, all the way out of PIAA playoffs
Head coach Mike Tomlin and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith watch a receivers and defensive backs drill at Steelers Minicamp at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex Thursday, June 13, 2024.
5
sports
Gerry Dulac: Next season’s major decisions loom this week for Mike Tomlin, Steelers staff
Advertisement
LATEST opinion
Advertisement
TOP
Email a Story