Locations of Lead Service Line and Water Main Replacement locations

Water Upgrades 

District 3, covering portions of the south end of Pittsburgh and portions of Oakland across the Monongahela River, has been the site of several lead service line and water main projects within the last two years. To determine the optimal locations to find and replace lead service lines, PWSA assesses historical construction records, Census data, and blood lead records from the Allegheny County Health Department. These data points are overlaid and weighted to ultimately determine which areas of Pittsburgh contractors should inspect and replace lead lines, where found. 

This analysis resulted in several work areas targeting District 3 neighborhoods, like the South Side Slopes, South Side Flats, Allentown, and Oakland. Over the course of 2018 and 2019, PWSA has made the following investment in the District:

• Addressed a grand total of 2,063 locations for lead service line replacement, with a 71% response rate from residents to complete work at their properties.
• Of those approximately 2,000 sites, PWSA replaced 813 public lead service lines and 572 private lead service lines.
• This work combined to an approximately $8.7 million investment in the area, based on the average cost of a lead service line replacement.

In 2020, PWSA continued work in the District in the form of water main replacement projects. Water main replacement is a more efficient process as it ensures the street is outfitted with a new water main and all lead service lines are also replaced during the work. An impressive 24 water mains have been selected in the South Side Slopes neighborhood, with many streets already completed! For more information on this project, visit pgh2o.com/SouthSideSlopesWaterMains. 

In addition to the South Side Slopes, PWSA has made an important water main upgrade on Bates Street. Crews replaced approximately 1,500 feet of water main on this busy street during nighttime construction to ensure reliable water service for years to come. 

Stormwater Investment

In collaboration with the City of Pittsburgh’s South Side Park Stormwater Improvement Project, PWSA is providing stormwater management and green infrastructure within South Side Park. The stormwater management will consist of underground detention systems, natural grass swales and bio-retention facilities. These stormwater facilities will capture and detain the first 1.5-inches of stormwater runoff over nine acres of park impervious area. These facilities are anticipated to increase capacity in our downstream sewer system and reduce combined sewer overflows (CSO) to the Monongahela River by 6-7 million gallons per year. PWSA and the City have just finished 90% design drawings with final design being completed in mid-December 2020. The anticipated construction start date is April 2021.

Planned Sewer Rehabilitation 

PWSA’s engineering and construction team are planning their sewer rehabilitation work for next year, which includes approximately five miles in the South Side Slopes area! While five miles are currently slated, televised footage of the sewers and other analysis will ultimately determine which sewers need investment. 

Sewer rehabilitation involves a tailored approach to bring the sewer back into working condition while minimizing excavations. Methods include sewer lining, which involves curing a reinforcing sleeve inside the pipe to repair small cracks, as well as some limited excavations and repairs. Work on these sewers will begin in 2021.