Clean Water Starts Here.

The very essence of our existence is to support the capacity for this region to have access to clean water. The reason local waterways are recreationally usable and economically viable today is because wastewater treatment came to town. Not so long ago, children were admonished to stay away from rivers and streams not because of drowning potential but due to the probability of contracting infectious disease. I give thanks for those who were confronted with a very clear “why” of protecting public health and chose to accomplish the “what, where, when and how” by creating the “who” – US! Eighty years strong, poised to achieve 480 in 80, unwavering in our commitment to answer the call as the first leg starter in the clean water cycle. ALCOSAN - Clean Water Starts HERE.

Eighty years is an accomplishment. The ultimate plan and regional wastewater treatment plant was the result of Allegheny County's leadership taking the lead to form the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority. The formation of ALCOSAN marked a response to the call for a regionalized unified approach to the overarching challenge of heavy polluted regional waterways and to address major wastewater and industrial wastewater compliance issues.

Today, 80 years later, the call continues to be heard for compliance with combined sewer overflows and sanitary sewer overflows, and the response is equally determined to recognize that Clean Water Starts Here. The Clean Water Program is about doing more as a region to ensure clean waterways for the protection of public health and the promotion of economic growth than could ever be accomplished individually.

As we approach this anniversary, I can’t help but think of those that had a vision and the courage to not only conceptualize such a system as ours, but to ultimately get the regional cooperation to construct it. Looking at what it is today, I take great pride in what we do for this region as not only an employee but also as a recreational water user. I believe our founders would take similar pride in what they would see today and our ongoing journey for clean water.

When the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority was created in 1946, local leadership was tasked with addressing the vast environmental problems facing the City of Pittsburgh and the region. These leaders were able to successfully bring communities together and advocate for healthier rivers and streams through the implementation of a regional wastewater authority.

Reliable wastewater collection and treatment is fundamental to the public health of a community, and I am proud to work for this organization. We are currently expanding capacity and will be constructing deep-rock tunnels to manage additional flow, ensuring that our infrastructure stays ahead of both environmental needs and modern regulations.

Cleaning up sewer overflows into our beautiful rivers a million gallons at a time.

As ALCOSAN celebrates 80 years of enhancing and protecting our most valuable natural resource, water, we are reminded that it takes a team to build on our core values leading to transformational results and being able to proudly proclaim “Clean Water Starts Here”! ALCOSAN has been instrumental in improving the water quality of the region. From workers to retirees and those who are potty training to ratepaying, we all contribute to ALCOSAN in some way – literally! Likewise, the Scholastic Outreach Division has transformed the way students understand the important work that we do every day. Having the opportunity to educate students about ALCOSAN through educational resources, hands-on learning activities, enrichment programs, tabling activities, camps, and internships has been a privilege.