With summer around the corner, you may be using more water than usual outdoors. You can track your household’s real-time water usage on our online portal and sign up to receive alerts when there is a spike in water usage. 

Leaking hoses, irrigation systems, or spigots can waste a lot of water, so detecting and repairing outdoor leaks can help you reduce your water bills this growing season.

Practicing the following water conservation actions outdoors can also help you save money:

• Sweep your sidewalk, steps, and driveway instead of hosing off those areas.
• Water your plants in the morning or early evening to reduce water lost to evaporation.
• Use an automatic shut-off nozzle for your gardening hose to control the flow.
• Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only – not the street or sidewalk.
• Wash your car using water from a bucket over your lawn or a commercial car wash that recycles water.

Learn more at pgh2o.com/waterconservation.

As we experience more intense storms in Pittsburgh, we see more frequent sewer overflows and floods. Our goal is to better manage stormwater so that it doesn’t overwhelm the capacity of the sewers, causing basement backups, pollution flowing into our rivers, or flooded roads.

We all need to learn about and practice flood safety, especially since flash floods can occur with little to no warning. Just six inches of fast-moving floodwater can knock over and carry away an adult, and 12 inches can carry away a car. It is impossible to know how deep floodwaters are just by looking at them. If you encounter floodwaters, Turn Around, Don’t Drown. 

There are three common types of flooding in Pittsburgh:

• Stream and river flooding occurs when rainfall or snowmelt causes water levels to rise up over the top of the channel’s banks. Flood risk is very high in a flood plain, an area of low-lying land next to a stream or river.
• Overland flooding occurs when water runs across the land after excessive rainfall or snowmelt, covering areas that may not even be near a stream or river. Floodwaters can submerge and damage roads, sidewalks, buildings, and basements.
• Basement sewage backups occur when a private or public sewer system is blocked, broken, or overwhelmed by heavy rainfall or snowmelt. If you see sewage pooling in your home, please immediately call our 24/7 Dispatch at 412-255-2423 (Press 1).

Learn more at pgh2o.com/flood-preparedness.