Pittsburgh’s tap water is safe to drink, meeting or exceeding all regulatory requirements set by federal and state governments. Water quality has seen improvements in recent years due to focused infrastructure investment and treatment upgrades. While the city’s water history includes past challenges, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) now reports compliance across all federally regulated substances. The primary remaining concern relates not to the treated water itself, but to the aging infrastructure that delivers it to individual homes.
The Water Source and Management
The region’s drinking water is primarily sourced from the Allegheny River, a surface water supply vulnerable to upstream influences. The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) manages the collection, treatment, and distribution of this water for the city and surrounding areas. The authority operates a comprehensive treatment process that handles an average of 65 to 75 million gallons of water daily. This multi-step process includes initial clarification, filtration through layers of anthracite and sand, and disinfection with chlorine to eliminate harmful microorganisms.
Following filtration and disinfection, chemicals like sodium carbonate are added to adjust the water’s pH for corrosion control. The fully treated water is then stored in a network of reservoirs and tanks, including a secondary microfiltration plant for water held in the Highland Reservoir. The entire operation is subject to oversight and regulation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP). The PWSA’s distribution system includes approximately 965 miles of water lines that deliver the finished product to customer taps.
Current Concerns: Focus on Lead and Infrastructure
The most significant water quality challenge in Pittsburgh is the presence of lead, which is not in the source water but leaches from aging service lines and household plumbing. In 2016, lead levels in some homes reached 22 parts per billion (ppb), exceeding the EPA’s action level of 15 ppb. Since then, the PWSA has implemented a strategy to reduce this risk. This effort includes the use of orthophosphates, a food-grade additive that forms a protective coating on the inside of lead pipes to prevent the metal from dissolving into the water supply.
The introduction of orthophosphate in April 2019 has been effective, contributing to the lowest recorded lead levels in two decades. Recent testing in early 2024 showed the 90th percentile lead concentration had dropped to approximately 3.58 ppb, well below the federal action level. Alongside this treatment, the PWSA is working on a Lead Line Replacement Program, removing over 11,000 public lead service lines to date. The program commits to replacing both the public and private portions of the lead service line at no cost to the property owner, with a goal of eliminating all public lines by 2026.
Assessing Overall Water Quality and Testing
Beyond lead, the PWSA conducts extensive testing to monitor for potential contaminants, performing over 100,000 analyses annually for approximately 100 different chemical and microbial constituents. The results of this monitoring are summarized in the annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), also known as the Water Quality Report, mandated by the Safe Drinking Water Act. This report confirms that the water supply consistently meets all Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) established by the EPA.
While the water meets all legal standards, the reports occasionally show detectable levels of disinfection byproducts (DBPs), such as Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs). TTHMs are compounds that form when chlorine reacts with naturally occurring organic matter in the Allegheny River. Although the measured DBP levels are compliant with the EPA’s legal limit, they can sometimes exceed the stricter health guidelines recommended by non-regulatory public health organizations. The PWSA also monitors for emerging contaminants like Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), and has reported no detectable levels of these “forever chemicals” in the treated water.
Taking Personal Precautions
Residents can take simple steps to minimize potential exposure to contaminants, especially lead from internal plumbing. If your home was built before 1980, it may have lead service lines or lead-based solder in the internal plumbing. Running your cold water tap for at least one minute before drinking or cooking is recommended, particularly if the water has been stagnant for several hours. This flushing action helps to clear water that may have picked up trace amounts of lead from the pipes.
It is advisable to use only cold water for drinking, cooking, and preparing baby formula, as lead dissolves more readily into hot water. In the event of a Boil Water Advisory—typically issued following a water main break or a loss of system pressure—boil water vigorously for a full minute to kill any potential microbial contaminants. For those with confirmed lead service lines or health concerns, installing a water filter certified to NSF Standard 53 is an effective way to remove lead and other regulated contaminants directly at the tap.