Latest news with #PittsburghWater
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Pittsburgh homeowner and water company debate responsibility for growing sinkhole
Pennsylvania family says repairs to water main on street has led to headaches Pennsylvania family says repairs to water main on street has led to headaches Pennsylvania family says repairs to water main on street has led to headaches A growing sinkhole outside a home on Pittsburgh's North Side is causing problems for one homeowner. The handicap parking spot reserved for Virginia Chinko outside her North Side home is now occupied by a sinkhole. It's not even necessarily the sinkhole, but it's the problems coming from it that are causing her stress. Judy Chinko says water is coming through the wall in her mother's basement. "Big pain in the butt," Virginia Chinko said. Virginia Chinko has lived on Perelta Street on the North Side since 1960. "Before they were here on the street doing work, you didn't have the sinkhole in front of your house?" KDKA's Meghan Schiller asked. "No, we didn't have any of that," Judy Chinko said. Judy Chinko and her mother alleged that all the issues started after Pittsburgh Water trucks parked on the sidewalk while repairing multiple mains along the street more than one year ago. Pittsburgh Water disagrees, saying the sewer main is 12 feet deep. It said the water is leaking from the Chinko's sewer lateral, which is a homeowner's responsibility. Neighbor Nicole Southern does not like that answer. "I disagree with that because, like I said, the whole issue was because of the water mains breaking and them not refilling the sidewalk or the street properly," she said. "It caused sinkholes, and that's not even the first sinkhole that it caused." The broken mains flooded Southern's basement. She's now worried about the Chinkos. "Do we have to wait for somebody to fall in it, somebody's pet to get lost in it for them to finally come and do something about it?" she said. The Chinkos said it would cost around $10,000 to make three repairs. They're hoping a plumber would want to help them figure out a solution. Also, several residents on the street said they're going to continue to call anyone who will listen in hopes of catching the attention of someone who has the power to fix this.
CBS News
02-06-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Pittsburgh Water announces $75M in upgrades for water main, lead service line replacements
Pittsburgh Water has announced a new round of water main and lead service line replacements in several neighborhoods set to take place during the 2025 construction season. The upgrades, totaling $75.4 million, will "enhance water reliability and safety, contribute to the ongoing effort to modernize Pittsburgh's water infrastructure, and generate economic activity in our region," according to a news release from Pittsburgh Water. Construction will take place across Point Breeze North, Brighton Heights, Squirrel Hill North, Lower Lawrenceville, and Bloomfield starting in early summer 2025, with work continuing through mid-2026. The project aims to install over 10 miles of new water mains and 1,000 service lines to help reduce incidents, such as water main breaks, that can lead to service interruptions and low water pressure, according to the press release. "With continued investment and support from state and local partners, Pittsburgh Water is working to provide a safer, more reliable water system for our residents," said CEO Will Pickering. "The hundreds of jobs associated with these essential upgrades will reinvest ratepayer dollars and PENNVEST funding locally, while reinforcing our system's reliability for future generations." Pittsburgh Water estimates that the engineering and construction associated with the project will generate over $112 million in economic output and create over 500 jobs.
CBS News
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
Pittsburgh City Council member calls for restoration of stormwater project amid recent storms
A Pittsburgh councilwoman is calling for the restoration of the stormwater project. "A project with no money is no project at all," said Pittsburgh Councilmember Barb Warwick. According to Warwick, Pittsburgh Water promised some version of a stormwater management project since 2016. She said construction was supposed to start later this year. "Pittsburgh water cut the money from the capital budget, moving the money elsewhere, no notice, no calls, no public discussion, Pittsburgh water broke its promise." The area is prone to flooding when severe weather hits. "We're not just talking about a little water in the basement, we are talking about a life-threatening flash flood that blows off manhole covers," Cynthia Cerrato explained. KDKA-TV reached out to Pittsburgh Water, a spokesperson said the project is not canceled, they say it's postponed due to funding. They added that three other projects are also in the same boat, on the South Side, in Carrick, and in the Hill District. Residents said they just want what they're owed to save their community. "If it were your business, if it was your family, if it was your friends, or your livelihood, would you stand and say I would relocate this money somewhere else?" Dana Provenzano said.
CBS News
17-04-2025
- CBS News
Here's how a tracking device helped catch a mail fraud suspect in the Pittsburgh area
A mail fraud crackdown led to the arrest of a Philadelphia man at a hotel room in Wilkins Township. It all started after postal inspectors installed a hidden camera at the Penn Hills Post Office. Investigators said the camera captured a man in a white Chevy Camaro removing all the mail from a blue collection box and dumping it in his car. A few days later, investigators dropped a tracking device in the blue collection box. Officials said the same suspect returned and stole the mail again. The tracking device led investigators to the Comfort Inn on Rodi Road in Wilkins Township. Once investigators got a warrant to search the hotel, they said they found 321 pieces of stolen mail inside a duffel bag in a room rented by Steven Goldwire. They also found a bag of mail in the trash can in the hotel vending machine area down the hall. Investigators said they found Goldwire with two cell phones on him and two Western Union money orders, presumed to be stolen, made out to Pittsburgh Water and the Department of Transportation. Investigators say this is just one example of how they are taking mail theft seriously and throwing resources at the problem. Court documents also show this Philadelphia man also faces charges in Conshohocken for stealing checks from mailboxes there last summer. Investigators say Goldwire had the key to open the mailboxes, saying he stole $56,000 worth of checks.
