22 Mar Pittsburgh’s Water Referendum: A Timeline
Written by Jo Anne Tippett
March 22, 2025
From Table to Ballot, the water referendum in Pittsburgh came together quickly! It started in early November with members of the Our Water Table (OWT) coalition learning from Baltimore’s fight to protect their water from privatization and rising rates. Inspired by their success, we knew Pittsburgh needed to take action!
Gabriel Gray, lead organizer for OWT, brought a steering committee together to explore creating a referendum. With help from Fair Shake ELS, the language was crafted. Councilwoman Deb Gross and OWT worked hard to rally support from City Council.
On February 3, 2025, after finalizing the details with Pittsburgh Water and legal teams, the referendum was presented for a vote—and it passed unanimously! Now, it’s up to us to make sure it passes in the May 20, 2025, Primary. We need 30,000 votes to make it happen!
There are plenty of ways you can help! Join us for canvassing, phone banking, and text banking to get the word out. Let’s protect Pittsburgh’s water!
If Pittsburgh’s water remains public, it helps safeguard the integrity of water systems across Allegheny County. By voting YES in May, we’re protecting not just Pittsburgh’s water, but ensuring that all communities in our region maintain control over this essential resource.
Mark your calendar for May 20th and make your voice heard!
Public water means transparency, accountability, and protection for all.