On January 25, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority said in its January newsletter it would replace 3,400 lead water service lines at no cost to customers during 2019 with the $49 million in funding provided by the PA Infrastructure Investment Authority.

During 2018, the Authority reported replacing 2,050 public lead service lines and 1,300 private lines.  DEP required the Authority to replace at least 1,500 public lead services lines in 2018.

The Authority said the 2019 replacement program would put it back soon track to replace all the lead service lines in its system by 2026.

The latest round of drinking water sampling done in December found 15 percent were above the 15 parts per billion EPA lead action level.  The Authority must meet a requirement that 10 percent of samples are no higher than 15 parts per billion.  Click Here for more.

The Tribune Review reported January 25 the Authority will start to add orthophosphate to its water system starting in March.  The chemical forms a coating on the inside of pipes and prevents such metals as lead and copper from draining into the drinking water.

For more information on what Authority customers can do to reduce their lead exposure risk, visit the Authority’s Community Lead Response webpage.

Visit DEP’s Pittsburgh Water Authority webpage for more information on DEP’s actions on the lead service line issue in Pittsburgh.

For more information on health threats from lead in drinking water, visit DEP’s Lead In Drinking Water webpage.

More Resources

The Joint State Government Commission and a special Senate Lead Exposure Task Force will be making recommendations on reducing exposure to lead as early as April as a result of Senate Resolution 33, sponsored by Sen. John Yudichak (D-Luzerne), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee.

For information on health threats from lead from other sources, visit the Department of Health’s Lead Poisoning webpage.

NewsClips:

Pittsburgh Water Authority To Replace 3,400 Lead Service Lines Using PennVEST Funding In 2019

Pittsburgh Water Authority Awards $35.9 Million In Contracts For Lead Line Replacement

Pittsburgh Water Authority To Embark On 12-Year Plan To Improve Lines, Service

Related Stories:

Pittsburgh Water Authority’s Latest Drinking Water Samples Show Lead Levels Above EPA Standard

PFAS Action Team To Meet Feb. 12 In Montgomery County To Provide Updates, Hear Public Comments

[Posted: Jan. 25, 2019]

1/28/2019