PWSA issues warning about phony utility workers

PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is reminding residents to be aware of people posing as utility workers.

Officials from the PWSA said police notified them of an incident involving a man posing as a water department worker in Lawrenceville on Wednesday.

According to a PWSA spokeswoman, someone went to a home on Butler Street between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. claiming to be a "water department" worker, dressed in a blue jacket and blue pants.

Police said the man told the elderly homeowner that he was there to check her water pressure and threatened to turn off her water if he was not permitted inside.

Investigators said the woman then escorted the man to her basement, where claimed to be checking the pressure. The man then told the woman to "count to six slowly" and left.

The woman was not hurt and it was not immediately clear if anything was taken from the house.

We are very troubled by this report. I want to remind residents that all PWSA field personnel are in uniform and carry photo ID.  All PWSA vehicles are marked with the letters P.W.S.A and have blue and white municipal license plates,” said interim executive director of the PWSA Jim Good.

If residents want to verify a PWSA worker, Good said they should not hesitate to call PWSA dispatch at 412-255-2429 or 412-255-2409.

WPXI