Lestitian will lead PWSA board
Top city administrator sets goals of clean water and accurate bills
A top administrator for Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto will steer the city’s troubled water authority for at least the next eight months.
Board members at the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority chose Debbie Lestitian as their chairwoman, installing her Friday to succeed Alex W. Thomson in the top spot. He is among three members on the seven-seat panel who resigned in March.
“We’re going to tackle the problems one by one as they arise,” said Ms. Lestitian, of Brookline, a former PWSA board member who serves as the city’s chief administration officer and personnel director. In a brief interview after the meeting, she prioritized “operational goals” such as accurate billing and clean water — both recent problem spots for PWSA.
Ms. Lestitian is set to be chairwoman at least until February, when the board is due for its
the connection into each building, and many of yearly organizational session. those pipe segments also Mr. Peduto in April contain lead. Partial line nominated her, Chatón T. replacements can involve Turner of Manchester and swapping out only the utilityJim Turner of Highlandowned segment — a Park. All began their fouryear practice linked to higher PWSA board terms contamination risks. Friday after winning confirmation “No one should pay May 2 from City higher rates for water that Council. The Turners are is poisonous,” said the Rev. not related. Vincent Kolb of Sixth Presbyterian
Members also chose Church in Squirrel Margaret Lanier, the city Hill. He called for a moratorium treasurer, as PWSA board on PWSA water vice chairwoman. shut-offs and rate increases
The monthly board until there’s a plan to ensure meeting followed an announcement universal safe water. Thursday Lead exposure is linked to that planned legislation developmental and other would give the state Public health problems. Utility Commission oversight Board member Deborah of PWSA. House Gross said PWSA takes the Speaker Mike Turzai, RMarshall, feedback “very seriously” and Rep. Harry and agreed the partial Readshaw, D-Carrick said work is “not optimal,” saying the move is necessary to it stems from the replacement address long-standing issues mandate. Mr. at the authority, Peduto’s office is collaborating which is tackling lead contamination, on state legislation failed infrastructure that would allow the use of and other shortfalls. public money on private line work — a practice that
Asked about the legislative isn’t allowed for now, according proposal, Ms. Lestitian to the administration. said she believes “that we’ll accept any outside In the meantime, PWSA help that we can get — any offers customers a chance funding that they could to replace their lead connections bring. And we’ll work with when the authority whomever has solutions.” removes its own segments.
Also Friday, the Our Low-interest loans Water Campaign gave the are available through the board more than 1,000 petition Urban Redevelopment Authority signatures from residents to help with that urging “safe, affordable, work, which often runs publicly controlled $2,000 to $3,000 for homeowners. water,” the coalition said Robert Weimar, in a statement. The group the interim executive director, includes Pittsburgh said PWSA also is United, the Pennsylvania looking at funding options Interfaith Impact Network related to its state mandates. and the Sierra Club.
In particular, some On another front, Mr. speakers urged PWSA to Weimar said repair and associated stop partial lead service costs for the Lanpher line replacements; other rising main have residents have argued for risen to about $2.5 million, financial assistance that up from an estimated $1.7 wouldprevent the practice. million earlier. The centuryUnder state and federalold, three-foot pipe regulations, each year connects the Lanpher reservoir PWSA must replace at in Shaler with a least 7 percent of its lead treatment plant in Aspinwall. service lines — individual connections that tap into a It ruptured in February. water main — after tests Expenses include police security found elevated levels of the for the work site and metal in some homes. restoration of a lengthy
The PWSA-controlled segment to prevent more lines are only part of the bursts, Mr. Weimar said. lead issue. Customerowned Work is expected to be service lines complete done by mid-June.