Water access is a fundamental human right.
However, drinking water access in Allegheny County is fragmented and varied, supplied by a mix of 35 public systems and 1 privately controlled system. To advance equitable access to clean and affordable water for all of Allegheny County’s residents, a collaborative team created metrics to rate and grade all 36 local water systems with respect to affordability, transparency, and water quality. These ratings are based on 2022 information solicited directly from water systems who serve Allegheny County, as well as prior data collected in 2020 as part of Women for a Healthy Environment's "Somethings in the Water Report”. Analyzing the information through the lens of environmental justice, the data were distilled into individual report cards and grades for each community water system as well as a summary report.
“This collaboration was a natural extension of WHE's Something's in the Water report. The report cards that have been developed for each water system can now be utilized by both ratepayers and the systems' staff and board to improve affordability, transparency, and water quality. We encourage a regional conversation between Allegheny County water systems, ratepayers, and public health entities in order to develop sustainable solutions that will increase capacity and transparency of water systems and protect the health of community drinking water.” - Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis
The research team for this report was composed of an interdisciplinary group of academics from sociology, policy, public health and environmental science, in partnership with the nonprofit Women for a Healthy Environment. The metrics developed for grading systems were based on global best practices and focused on the transparency of water system governance, the inclusion of community ratepayers, the presence of affordability programs and permanent shut-off moratoriums, adherence to drinking water standards, and the efficacy of lead service line replacement plans. Additionally, data collection from this effort allowed for comparison of water system and community characteristics, such as the ratio of employees to ratepayers and the percentage of each service area that falls within environmental justice geographies.
“In light of rapidly increasing water costs across Allegheny County, our team wanted to create a way for residents, as well as water providers, to understand practices that can be used to ensure that residents have access to clean, affordable drinking water. The deep, collaborative nature of this academic-community partnership was key to analyzing a complex issue and creating meaningful tools to help communities and drive systemic change.” - Dr. Emily Elliott
Although the report found significant variations within the 8 metrics examined across Allegheny County, each system displayed a need for improvement in one or more areas. Almost all local systems can increase the transparency of their operations and governance, while creating mechanisms for community input in decision-making. Water systems also need the financial and technical resources to create, implement, and sustain effective affordability programs. Lastly, the report highlights the need to not only allocate significant infrastructure resources at the state and federal level, but to ensure that access is equitable for all.
“The results of this report show the critical need to transform public water systems through investment and collaboration with community members. This is true not only for infrastructure maintenance such as removing lead pipes, which is essential, but also for other aspects of the sector that are equally important, such as transparent and public water governance.” - Dr. Marcela Gonzalez Rivas
Link to Executive Summary and Report
On August 2nd, 2023 from 6:00-7:00 the Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory and Women for a Healthy Environment will host a webinar to discuss the report and findings.
Press Contacts:
Jonathan Burgess, Director - University of Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory
About Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory – The Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory develops strong and sincere academic and community partnerships in order to cultivate future water leaders, catalyze research, and bridge efforts in water research, governance, and action. Learn more about the Pittsburgh Water Collaboratory at water.pitt.edu.
Michelle Naccarati-Chapkis, Executive Director - Women for a Healthy Environment
michelle@womenforahealthyenvironment.org
About Women for a Healthy Environment – Through education, technical assistance and advocacy, Women for a Healthy Environment (WHE) addresses environmental risks that impact public health. Its three main programs are Healthy Homes, Healthy Schools PA and Healthy Early Learning. Learn more at WomenForAHealthyEnvironment.org.