TAP 814
Raising Awareness about the Benefits of Tap Water
The Erie Water Works is the foremost regional water supplier in northwest Pennsylvania and the 814 area code. Our Tap Water is Terrific, and TAP 814 is a community-wide campaign to raise awareness about the benefits of tap water and to promote the use of refillable water bottles to avoid the environmental and health consequences of bottled water. Our Goal is to provide World-Class Water, First-Class Service®, and our Mission is to guarantee a continuous, uninterrupted, reasonably priced supply of quality water to its customers which assures public health while promoting regional stability and future development. As an anchor institution in Erie County, the Erie Water Works benefits the community in so many ways, but the most critical are highlighted here.

Quality
- We take good water from Lake Erie, and make it great. Water quality is priority #1.
- Our World-Class Water outperforms the stringent water quality standards set and regulated by the PA Department of Environmental Protection and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
- In a 2024 Filter Plant Performance Evaluation conducted by the PA Department of Environmental Protection, the Richard S. Wasielewski Water Treatment Plant received the highest rating – Commendable. The Erie Water Works is one of 13% of utilities in the state to have a Commendable rating.
- Tap water regulations are far more stringent than that of bottled water. Additionally, bottled water stored in plastic containers exposed to UV light or high temperatures can cause the plastic to degrade and release microplastics into the water.

Value
- Erie water is extremely affordable. It’s less than a penny per gallon; it’s actually seven-tenths of a cent per gallon! Even the cheapest bottled water is over 150 times more expensive. Designer water from faraway places (like Fiji) is over 2,000 times more costly.
- Water rates are highly competitive when compared to similar sized utilities in Pennsylvania.
- Over $43,000,000 in grant money has been obtained in the past 3 years to eradicate lead lines and construct water system improvements. This money allows for significant infrastructure investment without impacting water rates.

Our Team
- Our team of 106 employees work tirelessly to treat and deliver over 24 million gallons of water each day to over 220,000 people in Erie County.
- We are a local employer offering careers with competitive benefit packages to individuals with a variety of experience, education, and backgrounds.
- Our team includes a diverse group of highly skilled individuals including customer service representatives, construction and maintenance crews, chemists, scientists, geologists, and engineers. We are proud to have 41 PA Department of Environmental Protection Licensed Operators: 13 Class A Operators and 28 Class E Operators.

Infrastructure Investment
- Since the Erie Water Works (formally known as the Erie City Water Authority) was formed in 1992, over $380,000,000 has been invested in the water system.
- With 775 miles of buried water pipe, 20 water storage facilities, 2 water treatment plants and numerous pumping facilities, the long-term Capital Plan projects over $200,000,000 in system investment is needed in the next 5 to 10 years.
- Erie Water Works serves 10 different municipalities. Capital investment is made where it is needed most, regardless of geographic boundaries. A cutting-edge Geographic Information System and a robust asset-management program provide staff with the tools needed to prioritize projects and investment.

Public Health & Safety
- With over 4,000 fire hydrants in the water system, Erie Water Works provides the water supply and pressure needed for emergency responders to combat fires and keep our community safe.
- Water is life. It is the lifeblood of the community. A safe supply of high quality H2O is essential to public health and safety.
- The Erie Water Works is environmentally conscious, helping to keep Lake Erie clean through numerous community initiatives and advocacy efforts.
- Erie Water Works has been proactively removing lead lines since 2002, accounting for 5,800 removed in a 20 year period. For the sake of public health and safety, our position is clear: Get the Lead Out. Since 2022, the Erie Water Works accelerated its lead removal efforts and began replacing lead goosenecks in the water system 400% faster. City of Erie lead gooseneck removal will be complete by 2027, 10 years ahead of what is required by the US EPA.
