At Mayor Bill Peduto’s request last week, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority released a plan outlining what the next 12 years had in store.

As the city prepares its budget, water authority representatives testified to Pittsburgh City Council Monday of their plans for a billion dollars in infrastructure investment, which could require adding additional debt to the authority's balance sheet.

Amid excavators and hard hats on a dug up Greenfield Street, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto struck an optimistic tone on replacing the lead pipes that have shaped the city’s water politics since 2016.

Over the past year the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority has been racing to replace 2,100 lead lines throughout the city. Thanks to the $49 million Gov. Tom Wolf announced Wednesday, that goal became a little more feasible.

“These projects benefit public health, the environment, and support sustainable communities as we advance our shared goal of a clean and safe environment for our families to enjoy,” Wolf said.

Pittsburgh Controller Michael Lamb has not minced words when it comes to the city’s water authority.

Lamb has previously described the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority as “mismanaged”, and pointed to issues caused by a “perfect storm of mistakes and incompetence.” But he showed a turnaround this week by praising their recent progress and joined the ranks of citizens and elected officials opposed to privatization.

Peoples Natural Gas has been courting the water authority since the spring to start a public-private partnership, but Lamb called the offer misguided and warned privatization would undo the progress seen over the past year.