The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is a municipal utility founded in 1984 that provides drinking water, wastewater conveyance, and stormwater services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Pittsburgh, PA, under Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission oversight.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersPittsburgh, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority does
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) is a municipal water and sewer authority founded in 1984 that provides drinking water, wastewater conveyance, and stormwater services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It operates a regulated rate base under Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) oversight, which has governed the authority since April 2018 under Act 65. PWSA's core infrastructure includes a buried network of water mains, sanitary and storm sewers, treatment facilities (with regional wastewater treatment handled in partnership with ALCOSAN), and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) deployed across its service territory to enable automated meter reading and consumption data collection. The authority generates revenue primarily through tiered usage charges — a $31.54 minimum water charge plus $16.38 per 1,000 gallons above the minimum — alongside wastewater and stormwater fees, with rates approved through PUC rate cases.
PWSA's most strategically significant operational program is its Community Lead Response initiative, which has replaced more than 15,500 public-side and 11,800 private-side lead service lines. Capital for this work has been sourced from a mix of PENNVEST loans (including $13.4M in 2023), customer rates, and recent large funding rounds totaling over $200M in 2026. The authority is also mid-execution of a multi-generational Water Reliability Plan targeting supply redundancy, treatment upgrades, and transmission-main improvements. Commercially, PWSA has partnered with Oncourse Home Solutions to offer a service-line protection product, extending its relationship with customers beyond core ratepayer billing. Leadership is headed by CEO Will Pickering and COO Jennifer Presutti, and the organization employs 51–100 staff, reflecting its lean, infrastructure-asset-heavy operating model typical of mid-sized American water utilities.
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
- Legal name
- Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
- Website
- https://pgh2o.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is a municipal utility founded in 1984 that provides drinking water, wastewater conveyance, and stormwater services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Pittsburgh, PA, under Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission oversight.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Municipal Water and Wastewater Utility Services
- NAICS
- Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (221310), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (92411)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration (BPAIACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services (BPALAMAL)
Keywords
Where The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Pittsburgh
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Water Service Charges: Charges for water consumption based on gallons consumed. All customers charged minimum amount based on meter size. Average residential customer billed for 5/8 inch meter and 3,000 gallons per billing cycle.
- Wastewater Conveyance: Charges based on gallons of water released into sewer system, separate from water charges. Billed on behalf of ALCOSAN for sewage treatment.
- Stormwater Fee: Fee based on amount of impervious surface on property. Average residential customer billed for one equivalent residential unit (ERU).
- Service Line Protection Programs: Optional warranty protection programs for water line, sewer line, and in-home plumbing through partnership with Oncourse Home Solutions. Monthly subscription fees ranging from $5.55 to $9.99.
- Permit and Tap Fees: Fees for water and sewer permits, tap installation, and development-related services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Water Minimum Charge (≤1,000 gallons) |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Water Consumption Charge (per 1,000 gallons over minimum) |
| Subscription | Monthly | Wastewater Conveyance Minimum (≤1,000 gallons) |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Wastewater Conveyance Volume (per 1,000 gallons over minimum) |
| Unit Pricing | Monthly | Stormwater Fee |
| Subscription | Monthly | Water Line Protection Program |
| Subscription | Monthly | Sewer Line Protection Program |
| Subscription | Monthly | Water Line and Sewer Line Combo |
| Subscription | Monthly | In-Home Plumbing Protection |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) is a municipal water utility that delivers potable water, conveys wastewater (billed on behalf of ALCOSAN), and manages stormwater runoff for residential and commercial customers in the City of Pittsburgh. It also operates infrastructure programs including lead service line replacement, a Water Reliability Plan for system modernization, and optional warranty protection plans for water and sewer lines.
Product overview
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) operates as a municipal water and sewer utility providing core infrastructure services to residential and commercial customers. Its product portfolio centers on three bundled utility services — drinking water distribution, wastewater conveyance (billed on behalf of ALCOSAN), and stormwater management — each with associated sub-services. Key branded programs include the Community Lead Response & Lead Line Replacement initiative (15,500+ public and 11,800+ private replacements) and the multi-generational Water Reliability Plan for infrastructure modernization. Operational technology products include an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system feeding the Customer Advantage Portal for real-time usage tracking, and a mandatory Backflow Prevention Testing program administered via a SpryPoint-powered online portal. PWSA also offers an optional Service Line Protection Program through a partnership with Oncourse Home Solutions, and developer/contractor-facing permit and tap-in services. The Pittsburgh Drinks Tap campaign promotes tap water use. All services are delivered through the pgh2o.com web platform and the myaccount.pgh2o.com customer portal.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Pittsburgh Drinks Tap: Campaign promoting tap water as high-quality, affordable, and sustainable alternative to bottled water.
Products and services
- Residential & Commercial Water Service Potable water distribution and metering for residential and commercial customers, including account management, billing, rate administration, and customer assistance programs.
- Wastewater Conveyance Service Collection and conveyance of sewage and wastewater from customer properties to the ALCOSAN regional treatment facility, billed on behalf of ALCOSAN.
- Stormwater Management Service Management of impervious surface runoff through an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) fee on properties, including capital improvement projects such as the $6.8 million Stewart Avenue Stormwater Improvements Project in Carrick and Overbrook.
- Community Lead Response and Lead Service Line Replacement Program Multi-year program to identify and replace lead water service lines across the distribution system, reporting more than 15,500 public and 11,800 private lead service line replacements.
- Water Reliability Plan Multi-generational capital program to modernize the water distribution system, including main replacements, pump station upgrades, and treatment improvements, to deliver more secure and reliable water service.
- Backflow Prevention and Cross-Connection Testing Program Required annual backflow prevention device testing for all commercial properties, with test results submitted digitally to PWSA through the SpryPoint-powered Backflow Test Submission Portal by ASSE Certified Testers.
- Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Metering Service Remote meter reading infrastructure collecting multiple reads per day to enable leak detection, billing accuracy, and customer usage alerts via the Customer Advantage Portal.
- Service Line Protection Programs (via Oncourse Home Solutions) Optional monthly warranty protection plans for water lines, sewer lines, and in-home plumbing offered in partnership with Oncourse Home Solutions, covering repair costs up to $25,000 per occurrence.
- Sewer Rehabilitation Program (CIPP Lining) Annual cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) sewer lining program that rehabilitates aging sewer infrastructure in Pittsburgh neighborhoods to reduce backups and inflow and infiltration.
- Developer and Contractor Services (Permits and Taps) Permitting, tap installation procedures, consultant outreach, and supplier diversity program for developers and contractors connecting to the water and sewer system.
- Customer Advantage Portal (myaccount.pgh2o.com) Online self-service portal where customers can manage accounts, pay bills, track real-time water usage, and set alerts for usage spikes to help detect leaks.
- Pittsburgh Drinks Tap Campaign Public awareness campaign promoting tap water as a high-quality, affordable, and sustainable alternative to bottled water, as part of PWSA's customer education efforts.
Quantifiable outcome
- Replaced over 27,300 combined public and private lead service lines through Community Lead Response program
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Oncourse Home SolutionscorePittsburgh Water partners with Oncourse Home Solutions to offer optional service line protection programs for homeowners. Oncourse provides water line, sewer line, and in-home plumbing protection plans. The partnership was established through a public bidding process. Oncourse has 30+ years of experience serving 1.8+ million customers nationwide and has hired local Pittsburgh-based customer service agents. Proceeds from the program support PWSA's Hardship Grant Program for vulnerable customers.
- ALCOSANcoreALCOSAN (Allegheny County Sanitary Authority) provides sewage treatment services. Pittsburgh Water bills customers on behalf of ALCOSAN for sewage treatment, with ALCOSAN's rates set annually and reflected separately in customer bills.
- City of PittsburghcoreCollaborative partnership on infrastructure projects including the $6.8 million Stewart Avenue Stormwater Improvements Project to address flooding concerns in Carrick and Overbrook neighborhoods.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Xylem Inc. Global water technology company supplying AMI, smart metering, and treatment equipment to utilities including PWSA. Comparable as a technology supplier enabling modern utility operations.
- Mueller Water Products: Manufacturer of water infrastructure products (meters, valves, hydrants) sold to municipal water utilities. Comparable as an infrastructure vendor supporting PWSA's pipe replacement and metering programs.
Broad incumbents
- Essential Utilities (Aqua America): Investor-owned water and natural gas utility serving PA and other states. Comparable in regulated water operations, customer segments, and PA regulatory environment.
- American Water Works Company: Largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility, serving ~14M people. Comparable in regulated water utility operations and rate-base growth strategy, though investor-owned rather than municipal.
- Veolia North America: Global environmental services operator with municipal water/wastewater O&M contracts across the U.S. Comparable in water and wastewater service delivery at scale, though contract-operates others' systems.
- Severn Trent Services: International water and wastewater services provider with U.S. municipal operations. Comparable in regulated water utility operations and treatment technology offerings.
Direct peers
- DC Water: Municipal water and sewer authority serving Washington, D.C., with combined water, wastewater, and stormwater services. Highly comparable in mission, customer base, and lead service line replacement programs.
- ALCOSAN: Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, PWSA's sewage treatment partner that bills through PWSA. Closely coupled to PWSA operations and customer base.
- Cleveland Water: Municipal water utility serving Cleveland and surrounding suburbs, comparable to PWSA in scale, Great Lakes/Rust Belt service territory, and aging infrastructure requiring modernization.
- Philadelphia Water Department: Large municipal water, wastewater, and stormwater utility serving the City of Philadelphia. Direct peer to PWSA in scale, service mix (water + wastewater + stormwater), and PA regulatory environment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
What does The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority do?
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) is a municipal water utility that delivers potable water, conveys wastewater (billed on behalf of ALCOSAN), and manages stormwater runoff for residential and commercial customers in the City of Pittsburgh. It also operates infrastructure programs including lead service line replacement, a Water Reliability Plan for system modernization, and optional warranty protection plans for water and sewer lines.
Is The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority a public or private company?
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority founded?
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority was founded in 1984. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority based?
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, in the North America region.
How does The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Water Service Charges are the primary driver. The others are wastewater Conveyance, stormwater Fee, service Line Protection Programs and permit and Tap Fees.
Who are The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority's main competitors?
Others on record are Xylem Inc. and Mueller Water Products. Broad incumbents are Essential Utilities (Aqua America), American Water Works Company, Veolia North America and Severn Trent Services. Direct peers are DC Water, ALCOSAN, Cleveland Water and Philadelphia Water Department.
Does The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
What industry is The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority in?
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority's product category is Municipal Water and Wastewater Utility Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAG, Water Supply & Wastewater Utilities Administration, with a secondary code of BPALAMAL, Stormwater Management & MS4 Compliance Services. Its NAICS code is 2213 and its SIC code is 4941.