Welch says 7,000 PWSA customers at risk of losing their service

Democratic mayoral candidate Rev. John Welch has made Pittsburgh’s water the focal point of his campaign while blaming incumbent Mayor Bill Peduto for issues with the city’s service.

Rev. Welch again brought it to the forefront Saturday just days before the May 16 primary, saying that about 7,000 Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority customers are at risk of losing their water service this week.

Those at risk, Rev. Welch said, were PWSA customers placed into a six-month payment plan after they had not been billed for service for up to 18 months. If those customers did not pay at least 80 percent of their outstanding balance by this week, they could lose their service, according to Rev. Welch.

Rev. Welch said the customers who would be affected primarily get their water service through Penn American and live in southern city neighborhoods, including Beechview, Brookline and Carrick. The issue stems from billing problems customers have encountered from the PWSA over the past several years.

“We’re finding customers that had nothing to do with this error now going to feel the pinch,” Rev. Welch said at a news conference at his campaign headquarters in Bloomfield. “If they’re seniors, if they’re people with other concerns, this is going to be a financial setback for them.”

But the PWSA said it “has no imminent plans to discontinue service to these customers,” and a spokeswoman for Mr. Peduto called the announcement a “clumsy political attack.”

“Some sewage-only customers’ six-month payment plans are ending,” PWSA spokesman Will Pickering acknowledged. “PWSA will work with them to bring their accounts current. The authority has no imminent plans to discontinue service to these customers.”

He encouraged customers to call PWSA customer service at 412-2552423 to discuss the details of their specific accounts.

Katie O’Malley, a spokeswoman for Mr. Peduto, referred comment to PWSA other than to say “this is clearly a clumsy political attack.”

Rev. Welch has attacked Mr. Peduto over the incumbent’s leadership surrounding water issues, including the replacement of lead service pipes.

The mayor does not directly oversee the PWSA but appoints members to its board of directors.