WATER WARS
City Council hears from residents
Homestead resident Celeste Scott, of People’s United, testifies against the proposed merger between Peoples Gas and Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority during Wednesday’s hearing hosted by the Pittsburgh City Council. Story on
Pittsburgh City Council heard an earful Wednesday night from residents who want the city’s biggest water utility to remain publicly owned.
About three dozen people spoke at a two-hour council hearing on future oversight of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. At least several addressed — and endorsed — specifics in pending efforts to amend PWSA governance, but many spoke in broader terms against the notion of selling the public water infrastructure or otherwise privatizing the authority.
Council President Bruce Kraus pledged that sitting council members would not privatize PWSA. The city is not formally considering any privatization proposals for the authority, although North Shore-based Peoples Natural Gas has said it would like to forge a partnership involving the municipal utility.
Hershey-based Pennsylvania American Water Co., which serves southern neighborhoods and suburbs, has expressed interest in buying the PWSA system outright.
Mayor Bill Peduto has left open the possibility that the city and PWSA could seek private-sector partnerships — not private ownership — to strengthen the long-troubled water system, but he has said the authority first needs to craft a 12year improvement plan that’s due late this summer. The hearing agenda Wednesday centered on legislative proposals that are designed to foster greater independence on the PWSA board and avoid undue political influence. Council has not scheduled a final vote on those measures.
The city owns the water infrastructure under management by PWSA.