The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority will join in a string of community meetings as it undertakes long-delayed system upkeep and faces additional oversight, the utility said Friday.
PWSA’s “Get to Know Your Pgh2o” blitz began Feb. 8 and will continue through May 22, with authority representatives attending neighborhood events to field customer questions and discuss the utility’s future, according to an announcement.
“As we identify opportunities to renew the organization, rebuilding relationships and connecting with ratepayers is an important part of the process,” said Robert Weimar, PWSA’s interim executive director, in a statement. “Our customers need to be aware of what’s changing and how they’ll be impacted now and in the future.”
The PWSA board voted in November to increase rates nearly 50 percent by 2020, funneling new revenue to restore the flagging, leak-prone water system. Capital improvements in 2018, including the replacement of lead service lines, are budgeted to run some $75 million, up from about $45 million last year.
At the same time, the state Public Utility Commission is set to begin regulation of PWSA this year. The PUC will hold two "listening" events this month to hear concerns and other input about the utility.
Those events are set for 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the University of Pittsburgh's University Club, Ballroom A, 123 University Place in Oakland and 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 23 at Point Park University, Lawrence Hall, Room 200, 212 Wood St., Downtown. Speakers should sign up in advance by calling 717-787-5722 or send email to RA-CMU5722@pa.gov.
Among other changes facing PWSA, proposed governance amendments would replace the seven-seat PWSA Board of Directors with a nine-seat version. A new Board of Nominators would appoint the directors board, a task now left to the mayor and city council.
“Getting out into the community provides the opportunity to meet customers where they are and hear first-hand some of the issues and concerns they have with water quality, customer service, infrastructure needs, rates and anything else that may be on their mind,” Mr. Weimar said.
PWSA has upcoming appearances at 11 neighborhood community groups. The utility is planning to host its own community forums later in the year. All the gatherings will be open to the public, PWSA said.
The most immediate neighborhood events are slated for 7 p.m. Monday with the Elliott Community Group at Emanuel United Methodist Church, 825 Lorenz Ave.; 6:30 p.m. March 13 with the Hazelwood Initiative at 5344 Second Ave.; 6:30 p.m. March 21 with the Stanton Heights Neighborhood Association at Sunnyside Elementary School, 4801 Stanton Heights Ave.; and 7 p.m. March 26 with Lawrenceville 6th Ward Block Watch at St. Augustine Parish, 225 37th St.
Future meetings are listed on the PWSA website at www.pgh2o.com/communitymeetings. Community groups can request presentations for their own neighborhoods by sending email to communications@pgh2o.com.
First Published: February 16, 2018, 7:49 p.m.
Updated: February 16, 2018, 9:22 p.m.
