Lead Levels Decline In Pittsburgh Drinking Water

PITTSBURGH, PA — Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority officials on Wednesday credited an additive in the city's water supply for helping to significantly reduce lead levels in the city's drinking water.

Authority officials cited two recent quality tests that indicate improving lead levels even in homes that still have lead pipes. Water samples collected from 158 homes showed the lowest lead testing results in more than 20 years and the second consecutive round of testing below the Environmental Protection Agency action level.

“This latest round of testing not only brings us back into compliance with state and federal regulations, but also closes an unfortunate chapter in PWSA’s history,” authority Executive Director Will Pickering said. “Ensuring the safety of your water is our number one priority, and
we’re aiming to restore our customers’ trust by continuing to optimize water treatment and replacing the remaining lead pipes in our system.”

In April 2019, the authority beegan adding orthophosphate to reduce lead levels in drinking water while continuing to replace thousands of lead service lines. Orthophosphate is a food-grade additive that forms a protective layer inside of lead service lines, creating a barrier between the lead pipes and the water flowing through them.

The additive is approved by the EPA and has been successfully used in water systems across the world. Orthophosphate was selected by the authority and state Department of Environmental Protection after a year-long study of treatment alternatives.