Nine billion gallons of diluted sewage pour into the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers every year. We have a plan to stop it — using green infrastructure, community investment, and proven solutions.
Pittsburgh's sewer system combines stormwater and sewage in the same pipes. When it rains — and it rains a lot here — the system overflows. Diluted sewage pours into the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers, threatening public health, wildlife, and the communities that depend on these waterways.
A 2008 consent decree from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Allegheny County Health Department requires ALCOSAN to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows and reduce combined sewer overflows. The original deadline of September 2026 has slipped, with regulators now discussing 2032 or 2036. Meanwhile, the rivers keep absorbing the overflow.
Gray infrastructure — bigger pipes, deeper tunnels, expanded treatment plants — is part of the answer. But it is expensive, slow to build, and does nothing for neighborhoods. Green infrastructure stops water before it enters the system, beautifies communities, and costs less.
Planted depressions that capture and filter stormwater where it falls, preventing it from ever entering the combined sewer system.
Underground storage systems beneath street trees that absorb runoff from pavement, reducing peak flow during heavy rain events.
Porous surfaces that let rain soak through instead of running off, dramatically reducing the volume of water hitting the sewer system.
Vegetated rooftop systems that absorb rainfall, insulate buildings, and reduce the urban heat island effect.
Restoring natural stream channels and riparian buffers to absorb water naturally and rebuild aquatic habitat.
Green projects are smaller and more dispersed, creating local jobs and directing benefits to neighborhoods that need them most.
A comprehensive, green-first approach to eliminating sewage overflows in Pittsburgh's three rivers. We call for shifting the balance from gray to green, prioritizing equity, and following Philadelphia's proven model.
The Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio Rivers are the lifeblood of our region — our drinking water, our recreation, our identity. Green infrastructure protects them while making our neighborhoods greener, cooler, and more resilient.
Research, reporting, and commentary on the fight for clean water in Pittsburgh.
Nine billion gallons of diluted sewage overflow into Pittsburgh's rivers every year. Our plan charts a different course — one that puts green infrastructure first, invests in neighborhoods, and follows Philadelphia's proven model.
A 2008 consent decree requires ALCOSAN to eliminate sanitary sewer overflows and reduce combined sewer overflows. Here's what's at stake — and why the timeline keeps slipping.
In 2011, Philadelphia won federal approval for a green-first approach to stormwater management. Eight years in, the data shows it works — and the benefits go far beyond clean water.
ALCOSAN's plan is adaptable — but only if we make our voices heard. The $100 million currently allocated for green infrastructure is not a hard limit. We can push for more. Here is how you can help.
Tell ALCOSAN and local officials that green infrastructure must come first. Every signature matters.
ALCOSAN holds annual public meetings. Show up, speak out, and demand a green-first commitment.
Join watershed associations, tree planting events, and community greening projects across Allegheny County.
Share our plan with your neighbors, your elected officials, and your social networks. Awareness builds momentum.
Send us a message and we'll connect you with volunteer opportunities, petition updates, and coalition events.