Pittsburgh Water recently announced the lowest lead levels ever recorded in our drinking water system: just 2 parts per billion (ppb). This result, certified by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, is a powerful testament to how far we’ve come and how committed we remain to protecting public health. This milestone is more than a number. It’s the result of years of hard work, science-based decision-making, and a deep commitment to rebuilding trust with the communities we serve. It’s also a reminder of where we started.

As some may be aware, in 2016, our lead levels exceeded the federal action level of 15 ppb. During this time, it became abundantly clear that significant, decisive changes were required in order to provide the quality of water Pittsburghers need and deserve. We acted in lock step with state and federal regulators to bring our water quality into compliance, and established our Community Lead Response program to tackle the root causes of waterborne lead in our city.

One of the changes made was the introduction of orthophosphate to our water treatment process in 2019. Orthophosphate is a food-grade additive that forms a protective barrier inside pipes, preventing lead from leaching into drinking water. The results from this treatment process change speak for themselves. Even in homes with known lead service lines, lead levels in the water we provide are dramatically below the regulatory limits. In the years since we incorporated orthophosphate into our process, we have continued to work with experts and our water system operators to adjust and optimize the levels of this additive throughout our system to keep driving water-borne lead levels as low as possible.

But let me be clear: there is no safe level of lead — not in water, not in paint, not in soil. That’s why we’re not stopping here.

Pittsburgh Water remains on track to replace every residential lead service line in our system by the end of 2027, a goal that puts us ahead of many comparable cities across the country. Since launching our Community Lead Response in 2016, we’ve replaced more than 13,800 public-side and 10,400 private-side lead lines — all at no direct cost to our customers. And as we continue this aggressive progress, we will simultaneously continue to fine-tune our corrosion control strategy to hopefully push lead levels even lower.

These results serve as a reflection of the dedication and expertise of our entire team. It’s also a moment to recognize the trust our community has placed in us, and to reaffirm our responsibility to uphold that trust every day. We’ve made tremendous progress, but our work isn’t done. We remain focused on delivering safe, high-quality water to every customer we serve — now and for generations to come.

To learn more about lead in drinking water, request a free lead test kit, or explore our resources, visit pgh2o.com/lead.

- Will Pickering, CEO, Pittsburgh Water