2021 Year in Review Highlights - Reflecting on our successes in 2021, a year of ongoing progress - the Pittsburgh Water ...
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FEBRUARY 2022
2021 Year in Review Highlights CEO BRIEFING: PWSA
Reflecting on our successes in 2021, a year of ongoing progress RELEASES FULL 2021 YEAR
IN REVIEW REPORT
By Chief Executive Officer
Customer Assistance: We Will Pickering
launched PGH2O Cares, PWSA is entering a new
a group of education and era – one with a renewed
outreach professionals emphasis on public health,
working directly with our the environment, and our
most vulnerable customers responsibility as steadfast
to bolster enrollment in stewards of the vital water
our Customer Assistance services our region relies on
Programs and identify ways each day.
to reduce water usage. Their
success has helped PWSA There are lots of exciting
achieve enrollment of 5,217 projects underway at PWSA
customers in our Bill Discount that directly support this
In recent years, we’ve made and water quality, we hired Program at the end of 2021, evolution. While our work
significant strides in our a Chief Environmental an approximately 21% increase as public servants is never
efforts to achieve a level Compliance & Ethics Officer and since the end of 2020. We done, I’m confident the
of transparency that our expanded our Environmental also continued to enhance our strategic priorities we’ve
customers deserve. In addition Compliance Department. The Customer Assistance Programs been undertaking will help
to providing informative enhanced department provides to offer discounts to more us to further transform
resources throughout our guidance, tracking, and customers and simplify the our water system while
website, we’ve been compiling direction to ensure we meet our enrollment process. rebuilding trust with the
annual reports that highlight our regulatory obligations. public we serve.
yearly accomplishments. Improved Stormwater
Diversity, Equity, and Management: We established Our second annual Year in
In 2021 our dedicated teams Inclusion: We developed and a stormwater fee to equitably Review highlights the work
ensured our core values implemented a Diversity, Equity, charge for stormwater we’re undertaking to support
of stewardship, ethics and and Inclusion policy to foster services and adequately fund our transformation into a
integrity, accountability, safety, a diverse workforce and talent stormwater improvements. trusted community utility
and equity defined everything pipeline. We also advanced We also initiated a stormwater partner. Some highlights of
we do. Following are some our Supplier Diversity strategic planning process this report are shown in the
examples of how we met and Program by contracting with to address climate change article at left – but there’s
exceeded our expectations. 76 Disadvantaged Business and prioritize future project much more!
Enterprises (DBEs), resulting in locations.
Environmental Compliance 18% or $31,294,999 of all Board- We invite you to visit our
and Ethics: As part of our approved contracts being paid More information, including a Performance page to learn
commitment to regulatory to DBE businesses. link to our Year in Review report, even more about our 2021
compliance for the environment is available in our Director’s Cut accomplishments.
piece, shown to the right.
For a complete list of PWSA’s board and community meetings, please
visit our Events & Meetings page. Following COVID-19 restrictions,
meetings are held virtually and may be tentative or postponed.
PGH2O IN THE COMMUNITY
PWSA Expands Customer Assistance Programs
Simplified enrollment and expanded access can help reduce your bill
discount on their stormwater Service Line Replacement
charge. The monthly credit on Reimbursement Program.
past due balances doubled
from $15 to $30 for on-time To enroll, call Dollar Energy
payments made by customers Fund at 866.762.2348 or
who are enrolled in the Bill contact PGH2O Cares at
Discount Program and on 412.255.2457 or via email.
an active payment plan. We
expanded the Hardship Grant Third-party assistance programs
Program to include sewage-only are also available to help
customers, and all confirmed further reduce the financial
low-income customers are now burden of utility bills. These
automatically enrolled in the include the ALCOSAN Clean
Winter Shut Off Moratorium. Water Assistance Fund, the
PWSA’s enhanced Customer The Bill Discount Program Lastly, reconnection fees for all Low-Income Household Water
Assistance Programs and provides an additional 50% customers are waived in 2022. Assistance Program (LIHWAP),
simplified, accessible process discount on water usage and the Allegheny County
for enrollment offers more charges for very low-income Additional Customer Assistance Emergency Rental Assistance
discounts to more customers customers, and all customers Programs include Flexible Program (ERAP).
than ever before. enrolled in the program Payment Plans, Arrearage
automatically receive an 85% Forgiveness, and our Lead
TEAM PGH2O
Employee Spotlight: Nicholas Clark, Workplace Safety Manager
the field, are following our Management program at What sort of impact do you
policies and procedures to Slippery Rock University, which hope to have on PWSA’s safety
mitigate hazards and ensure really stuck out to me. initiatives?
a safe working environment.
This also involves writing and Why did you decide to join I hope to help PWSA further
implementing new safety PWSA? strengthen its safety culture
policies and updating existing and help more employees buy
ones to stay current with In my past role I was traveling a into our safety policies and
industry standards. lot, but now I get to work closer procedures. Really, if I can help
to home. But beyond that, to ensure our employees return
What made you decide to working for an organization that home safely at the end of each
Hired just last month, Nicholas pursue a career in safety? provides clean drinking water to working day, I would consider
Clark is on a mission to help Pittsburgh is pretty cool! that a win.
improve the safety of all our Safety is a really important and
employees. personal topic for me. When What are your favorite What do you like to do outside
I was growing up, my dad challenges to tackle? of work?
Tell us more about your role at suffered a permanent injury at
PWSA. work, and safety became a big Anything that gets me out on In my free time I enjoy spending
topic in our house. Following the jobsite where I can create time with my wife and daughter.
I am primarily responsible for high school, I wasn’t sure safe ways to perform a certain In the summers, we like having
ensuring that our employees, what career path I wanted to task. I like taking a hands-on family over for BBQs. I also
especially those working in take. I then found a Safety approach. really enjoy hunting.
2 FEBRUARY 2022
ENGINEERING REPORT
Rising Main Rehabilitation Begins in Highland Park WATER
components of our water
WISE
production and distribution
systems. These projects will
take place over the next several
years. When is the last time you
cleaned or replaced your
The rehabilitation of Rising Main faucet aerators?
3 will improve the reliability of The aerator at the end of
our water system and improve your water faucet (shown
hydraulic performance to below) adds air into the
distribute water throughout the water to reduce splashing
system. This large pipe carries and limit the flow of excess
water from the Bruecken Pump water. Aerators catch some
Station to the covered Highland of the silt, minerals, and
II Reservoir. The nearby Rising other debris that can flow
Main 4 will also undergo through your tap water,
Project overview: Rising Main 3 Rehabilitation
rehabilitation in 2023. We will which can cause a build-up
invest nearly $12 million in both and affect your home’s water
In mid-February, Rising Main 3, This project, part of our Water projects. quality over time.
a large-diameter water main in Reliability Plan, is the first of
Highland Park, was taken out of several once-in-a-generation For more information, please Most aerators simply
service for rehabilitation. projects that will renew key visit our Project page. unscrew from the faucet, but
you may need to use a pair
of pliers or a wrench. Once
DEVELOPMENT REPORT your aerator is removed,
separate its parts and
remove any debris. Soak the
Making Sense of the New Rate Structure parts in white vinegar and
scrub with a brush. Rinse
and reassemble the cleaned
PWSA holds Developer’s Roundtable aerator, then screw it back
onto the faucet.
The 2022 Developer’s The agenda moved on to our updates are pending Board
Roundtable, held on February new permitting process in of Director’s approval and will You can find additional
23, had a packed agenda. CityGrows, with clarifications on be posted to our Developer’s educational resources and
how projects in progress and Manual website once it is videos on our website.
The presentation began with new projects would be handled finalized.
the new rate structure, including by staff.
the elimination of tap fees, We want to thank all of
introduction of new applications We wrapped up with a our participants for their
fees, and overview of our discussion on how the fee contributions to this lively
stormwater rates. The team changes and new permitting conversation. A recording of the
highlighted available resources process affected updates to event is available upon request.
for developers to predict their the Developer’s Manual. This
stormwater costs, such as manual is our guide on the Any remaining questions or
the credit manual and the fee procedures and regulations comments can be emailed to
finder interactive map. These for developments tapping our Development Coordinator,
resources can be found on our into a new and existing public Jordan Treaster (JTreaster@
dedicated Stormwater Fee sewer or water facilities, and pgh2o.com).
webpage. for constructing new facilities
to be dedicated to PWSA. The
3 FEBRUARY 2022
PGH2O CONNECT
Customer Assistance Programs Board of Directors
Our Customer Assistance Programs are designed to provide Chair
financial relief for income-qualified residential customers who Alex Sciulli
are having difficulty paying their PGH2O bill. These programs are
managed by our PGH2O Cares team, a group of education and Vice Chairperson
outreach professionals dedicated to working directly with our Erika Strassburger
most vulnerable customers to bolster enrollment in our customer
assistance programs and identify ways to reduce water usage. Secretary
Jim Turner
For more information about our programs, including the Winter Shut Off Moratorium,
Assistant Secretary/
Bill Discount, Flexible Payment Plans, Hardship Grant, and Lead Line Reimbursements,
please visit our Customer Assistance Program page or call Dollar Energy Fund at 866.762.2348. Treasurer
Michael Domach
Members
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Do We Have Your Number? Peg McCormick Barron
Rosamaria Cristello
If you can, consider donating to our Hardship Did you know that we call customers during
Grant Program. water emergencies and outages? BJ Leber
It is important to verify that we have the Audrey Murrell
best number to reach you. You can even add Mark Anthony Thomas
Enroll in eBilling multiple numbers for your account, so your
Convenient and easy to use, our online billing
entire household is informed about our work. Currents Contributors
and payment portal ensures timely delivery of TO UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFO: Will Pickering
bills and payments. Chief Executive Officer
Call PWSA Customer Service:
New enrollees who also enroll in the autopay Rebecca Zito
412.255.2423 (Press 5)
feature on our website will receive a one-time Senior Manager of
$5 discount on their bill. Visit our Update Contact Information portal. Public Affairs
Julie Asciolla
Industry Relations Manager
Apply to Become a Stormwater Ambassador! Rachel Rampa
Senior Public Affairs
Do you want a chance to help collect feedback and engage with your neighbors and Coordinator
community on stormwater issues?
Ross Marcinizyn
If so, you’re invited to apply today to be part of the second cohort of PWSA’s Stormwater Internal Communications
Strategic Plan Ambassador Program. Ambassadors will be paid a rate of $15 an hour for 16 Specialist
to 18 hours a month from March to July of 2022. Mora McLaughlin
Construction Communications
If you’re interested in participating, please apply at Grounded’s website. Project Manager
Jordan Treaster
Development Coordinator
Elaine Hinrichs
Education and Outreach
Stay in the know with PGH2O! Penn Liberty Plaza 1
1200 Penn Avenue
Associate
Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Hali Hetz
Join our email list to make sure you’re getting the latest news Public Affairs Associate
and updates. Signing up is simple on our News & Events page. Customer Service Nick Letzkus
T 412.255.2423 (Press 5) Public Affairs Associate
info@pgh2o.com
linkedin.com/company/pgh2o facebook.com/pgh2o
Emergency Dispatch
@pgh2o nextdoor.com T 412.255.2423 (Press 1)
Available 24/7
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