Pittsburgh Water (formerly Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority / PWSA)

Provider briefing

How this utility’s billing works

Pittsburgh Water (formerly Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority / PWSA) operates as a public water authority serving City of Pittsburgh and surrounding areas served by Pittsburgh Water. Customers should use the provider’s current account-specific bill and official customer-service instructions as the final authority for deadlines, balances, and service requests.

The published water-rate framework is described as Monthly minimum/service charge plus volumetric water and wastewater conveyance charges, a 5% Distribution System Improvement Charge, a separately identified PENNVEST charge, and a stormwater fee based on impervious-area ERUs. Effective March 8, 2026, the typical 5/8-inch residential minimum covers the first 1,000 gallons; water is $33.30 minimum plus $18.28 per full 1,000 gallons over the minimum and $2.13 per additional 1,000-gallon PENNVEST water charge. Wastewater conveyance is $8.33 minimum plus $7.32 per additional 1,000 gallons and $0.88 PENNVEST wastewater. Stormwater is $5.75 for 0.5 ERU, $11.50 for the typical 1-ERU residential tier, or $22.99 for 2 ERUs.. Bills are generated monthly. pittsburgh water's current customer and rate pages describe monthly bills, monthly metered water and wastewater-conveyance charges, recurring payment schedules, and a bill issued about 20 days before a zipcheck due date., and a typical residential cost reference is Pittsburgh Water's official 2026 sample for a typical 5/8-inch residential meter using 3,000 gallons per month totals $115.29 for Pittsburgh Water's water, PENNVEST water, wastewater conveyance, PENNVEST wastewater, DSIC, and 1-ERU stormwater charges. Pittsburgh Water bills ALCOSAN sewage treatment separately on the same statement; the sample shows an additional $44.11 ALCOSAN charge, for a combined total of $159.40. A 5,000-7,000 gallon household will usually cost more because of volumetric water and sewer charges, stormwater tier, and ALCOSAN treatment.. These descriptions are useful planning benchmarks; actual charges can change with meter size, usage, sewer averaging, local taxes, drought stages, or account-specific fees.

Wastewater and sewer calculation

Wastewater conveyance is billed from the gallons of metered water released into the sewer system. In the 2026 5/8-inch sample, the first 1,000 gallons carry an $8.33 minimum, then each full 1,000 gallons above the minimum is charged $7.32 plus the $0.88 PENNVEST wastewater charge; DSIC applies to water and sewer charges. Pittsburgh Water also bills ALCOSAN's separate sewage-treatment charge, whose rate is set annually. Customers with irrigation, a private leak, or water that does not enter the sewer should ask Pittsburgh Water and ALCOSAN about the applicable adjustment or non-returned-water process.

Meter and infrastructure notes

Pittsburgh Water is systematically replacing old meters and installing advanced meters that transmit consumption to the utility down to a tenth of a gallon, enabling daily usage views and leak alerts through the Customer Advantage Portal. If automatic reads are unavailable, the utility can send a self-report meter-reading instruction. Meter replacement outreach normally starts by letter, phone call, or door hanger; a nonresponsive owner-occupied property can receive a 10-day termination notice followed by a 3-day shut posting, while a tenant property can receive a 37-day certified notice and later 30-day posting. Billing is monthly and actual/remote reads are used when available; meter age, access, and installation status determine whether an estimate or self-report is required.