PGH2O In The Community: PWSA Joins United for Infrastructure 2020

A week-long series of events raised awareness for our country’s infrastructure needs
United for Infrastructure logo and photos of PWSA water infrastructure

PWSA participated in this national week of events on September 14-21, which highlighted events, media coverage, and education and advocacy efforts to elevate infrastructure as a critical issue impacting all Americans. Across the country, businesses, labor organizations and elected officials came together to spread the message that the nation must work together to #RebuildBetter.

To celebrate, we hosted two virtual events that provided an opportunity for Pittsburgh residents to learn about the improvements we are making to our water infrastructure: A panel discussion focusing on our water future and a virtual, behind-the-scenes tour of the Microfiltration Plant (MFP) in Highland Park.

The Our Water Future Panel Discussion was a high-level discussion about the future of our water infrastructure. Panelists Will Pickering, Executive Director; Jen Presutti, Deputy Executive Director; and Barry King, Director of Engineering and Construction discussed the critical water projects we will construct over the next few years to modernize our water infrastructure. Participants learned about the engineering techniques behind these improvements, how they will strengthen our overall system, and ensure the delivery of safe and reliable water services. We were delighted to have Brian K. Jensen, Ph.D. of the Allegheny Conference, moderate the discussion.

Screenshot of panelists from PWSA United for Infrastructure Panel webinar Panelists from top left - Barry King, PWSA Director of Engineering; Brian K. Jensen, Ph.D. of the Allegheny Conference; Will Pickering, PWSA Executive Director; and Jen Presutti, PWSA Deputy Executive Director.

Our week-long celebration of water infrastructure concluded with a tour of the Microfiltration Plant (MFP) in Highland Park. Watch the recorded Facebook Live video on our Facebook page, facebook.com/PGH2O, to join Project Manager, Marc Frangipani, for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the MFP. Marc discusses the importance of this facility, highlights the technology that is used to treat water and automate the plant, and introduces you to the operators and technicians that work on-site each day.

The pipes, pumps, reservoirs, tanks, and treatment facilities that Pittsburgh residents and businesses rely on every day to bring clean drinking water to their taps and take wastewater away from their homes were constructed nearly a century ago. They have served us well, however, we can no longer wait to upgrade these critical components of our water and sewer systems.

For these reasons, we have increased our investment in our water and sewer infrastructure since 2017 and plan to continue this investment over the next several years. The improvements we are making will modernize our water system and ensure safe and reliable water services for future generations of Pittsburgh residents. United for Infrastructure 2020 is a reminder of the importance of these projects and why this investment is critical to Pittsburgh.

Find more information on PWSA’s involvement in United for Infrastructure Week 2020 at pgh2o.com/united-infrastructure.