Speakers urge Pittsburgh to keep water public as council holds hearing on Bill 1452

Pittsburgh City Council held a public hearing Feb. 3 on Bill 14-52, a proposed ordinance directing the Allegheny County Board of Elections to place a referendum on the May 2025 primary ballot asking whether the Pittsburgh Home Rule Charter should be amended to add an article affirming public ownership of potable water, wastewater and storm sewer systems and restricting their sale or lease to private entities.

The hearing drew a series of speakers who urged council to approve placing the measure before voters as a protection against future privatization and to preserve affordability, accountability and community oversight of water services. “One of the core principles of water justice is ensuring that everyone in our communities has access to safe, affordable water service that we all deserve,” said Gabrielle Gray, a Homewood resident and speaker, describing lead-line replacement work she received through public programs.

Why it matters: Supporters said keeping the system public safeguards affordability and democratic oversight, and they credited Pittsburgh Water’s recent programs—lead-line replacement, customer assistance and reliability initiatives—as benefits of public control. Speakers also framed water access as a human-rights and environmental-justice issue for low-income and historically marginalized neighborhoods.

At the hearing Chief Pomai Chakman Yahalahi thanked council for moving the referendum forward and framed water as “the blood of the land,” asking listeners to vote in favor when the question appears on the ballot. Joanne Tippett, advocacy coordinator for the environmental justice table at Upstream Pittsburgh, said privatization could reduce oversight and allow unaffordable rate increases: “With private ownership of a water system, there's a possibility that rates for water service would have little or no oversight, making it possible for rates to be raised above consumers' ability to pay.”

Other speakers echoed those concerns. Marcela Gonzalez Rivas cited a national poll and academic literature arguing investor‑owned systems tend to charge higher rates and have weaker transparency; Tanya Todd of Pittsburgh United described personal plumbing and sewer backups and credited Pittsburgh Water with helping address neighborhood problems. A speaker who identified only as Bianca argued that privatization would worsen pollution and restrict access for people and animals.

Council procedure and next steps: The hearing was convened by Councilwoman Deborah Gross, who asked the clerk to read the bill title and called registered speakers. Council members present included Councilwoman Strasburger and later Councilwoman Barb Warwick and Councilman Bobby Charles Wilson (several council members joined online). No final council vote occurred at this public hearing; council members and staff noted a final vote would be scheduled for a subsequent meeting. Council members emphasized that only voters can amend the Home Rule Charter, and that council’s role is to decide whether to submit the question to the ballot for a public decision.

What was not decided: The council did not take a final vote at this hearing and made no changes to the text of the proposed charter amendment. Several speakers urged a 9–0 council vote to submit the question; Councilwoman Strasburger and others thanked advocates and encouraged voter participation.

The hearing record shows seven registered speakers for this item; the council indicated there would be additional opportunities for public comment at upcoming sessions.

Sources and evidence: The account above is based on the Feb. 3, 2025 Cablecast public hearing on Bill 14-52 in Pittsburgh City Council; excerpts of testimony include direct quotations from Gabrielle Gray, Joanne Tippett, Tanya Todd and Chief Pomai Chakman Yahalahi.