PWSA: $14 million upgrade to filtration plant at Highland Park reservoir set to be completed

In a few weeks, people will be able to stroll around the reservoir in Pittsburgh’s Highland Park again, a spokeswoman for the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority said.

The popular walkway closed last August for repairs and to allow for more than $14 million in upgrades to the filtration plant that treats water from the reservoir. The work on the plant is nearly complete and it will be brought back into service this week, according to a news release from the city.

The walk itself will be restored and is expected to reopen by mid-August, according to PWSA spokeswoman Rebecca Zito.

“We appreciate everyone’s patience while we complete that project. We’re getting really close to when we can reopen,” she said.

The reservoir helps supply water to about 250,000 customers. The treatment plant can treat up to 20.8 million gallons of water daily, Zito said.

The plant that was upgraded treats water from the reservoir, which supplies water to PWSA customers in the East End, the Hill District and parts of Oakland.

The plant hasn’t been in service since 2017 because of stricter water quality standards and it has been upgraded during the years since to improve treatment.

“I commend the authority’s leadership for this work, which is going on while it is also replacing thousands of lead service lines around the city, and thank residents for their patience during all these years,” Mayor Bill Peduto said in a statement.

The improvements PWSA made will ensure the drinking water meets the latest safety standards, PWSA Executive Director Will Pickering said in a statement.

The plan retreats water stores in the reservoir, which is uncovered, before it is piped to customers.

Ultraviolet light disinfection technology has been added to the treatment process to kill bacteria and other pathogens.

The reservoir also supplies water to secondary storage facilities including the Garfield Tank, Herron Hill Tank and Reservoir, Bedford Tanks and Lincoln Tank, according to PWSA.