What Pittsburghers Need to Know About Pittsburgh Water Quality

Where Does Pittsburgh’s Tap Water Come From?

According to the City of Pittsburgh’s Annual Drinking Water Quality Report, its tap water comes from the Allegheny River, which spans western Pennsylvania and parts of New York. Because this is a surface water system, it’s susceptible to contamination at any point in its drainage basin, and needs to be treated before it’s safe to drink.

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority can treat up to 100 million gallons of water per day at its water treatment plant, which it supplies to Pittsburgh residents through an extensive distribution system. Other parts of Allegheny County get their drinking water from a patchwork of 35 public water systems and one private one.

How Clean is Pittsbugh’s Water Supply?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires water providers to conduct a Source Water Assessment to identify risks to the water supply before it’s treated.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP), the Allegheny River is “most susceptible to road deicing materials, accidental spills along railroad tracks, and leads from submerged pipelines and storage tanks.”

As with most surface water systems, there’s a risk of microbial contaminants such as Cryptosporidium, although these can be removed during the treatment process.

One of the biggest threats to Pittsburgh’s water quality is sewage overflow. Since most of Pittsburgh’s stormwater and sewage systems are combined, even small amounts of rain can cause sewage discharges that contaminate the river.

Another risk is from Acid Mine Drainage (AMD), which is when pyrite contaminates the water supply and increases its manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) levels.

How Is Pittsbugh’s Drinking Water Treated?

The Safe Drinking Water Act establishes national standards for American drinking water systems, but each system has its own water treatment process to provide high-quality drinking water and meet public health goals.

Here’s how the City of Pittsburgh treats its water:

1. Clarification

First, water is pumped out of the Allegheny River and passed through a set of screens to filter out large debris such as leaves. Then, chemical compounds called coagulants are added to cause small particles to stick together and settle to the bottom.

2. Filtration

After passing through the sedimentation basin, the water moves to the Filter Building, where it’s filtered through a series of 18 carbon and sand gravity filters.

3. Disinfection

Next, up to 40 million gallons of water are collected in the Clearwell, where it undergoes disinfection with chlorine and corrosion control to reduce lead contamination. The water is also fluoridated and treated to adjust its pH levels.

4. Distribution

Finally, the water is delivered to customers through the distribution system. Some of the water is stored in the Highland Reservoir #1, after which it’s filtered again and treated with chlorine and UV light to remove any microorganisms it picked up there.

What Contaminants are Found in Pittsburgh Tap Water?

Some of the contaminants in Pittsburgh’s tap water are found in the source water, while others are formed during the treatment process. These chemicals are called disinfection byproducts, because they have a role to play in disinfection, but may still be harmful to human health when consumed in large quantities.

The Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization, found 12 contaminants in Pittsburgh tap water that exceed their guidelines, although they’re still within the safe drinking water limits enforced by the EPA. Here are five of them:

Chromium-6 (Hexavalent)

Chromium-6 or hexavalent chromium, became a major concern when Erin Brockovich exposed its role in a public health crisis in Hinkley, California. This chemical is found primarily in industrial areas, and can cause cancer, liver damage, and other issues.

The EPA hasn’t set a legal limit for chromium-6, but California has set a public health goal of 0.02 parts per billion (ppb), which Pittsburgh’s water exceeds by 27 times:

• EPA maximum allowance: No legal limit
• EWG recommended maximum: 0.02 ppb
• Pittsburgh maximum contaminant level: 0.535 ppb

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

The five haloacetic acids (HAA5) are a group of chemicals that can lead to an increased cancer risk over time. Since they’re a disinfection byproduct, they’re impossible to avoid altogether, but the EPA has set an upper limit of 60 ppb that it considers safe.

The EWG recommends a more cautious limit of 0.1 ppb, which Pittsbugh’s tap water exceeds by 164 times:

• EPA maximum allowance: 60 ppb
• EWG recommended maximum: 0.1 ppb
• Pittsburgh maximum contaminant level: 16.4 ppb

Haloacetic acids (HAA9)

There are four more haloacetic acids that the EPA has yet to regulate, bringing the total number of acids to nine (HAA9). When grouped in this manner, the EWG recommends a limit of 0.06 ppb. Pittsburgh’s HAA9 levels are 545 times higher than this limit:

• EPA maximum allowance: No legal limit
• EWG recommended maximum: 0.06 ppb
• Pittsburgh maximum contaminant level: 32.7 ppb

Nitrate

Nitrate is a cancer-causing chemical that gets into the surface water supply from urban and agricultural runoff. Although useful as a fertilizer, it can have harmful effects when consumed in large quantities, and the EWG recommends a limit of no more than 0.14 ppm in drinking water. Pittsburgh’s nitrate levels are 4.4 times over the limit:

• EPA maximum allowance: 10 ppm
• EWG recommended maximum: 0.14 ppm
• Pittsburgh maximum contaminant level: 0.617 ppm

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)

Trihalomethanes are another group of disinfection byproducts linked to harmful health effects like bladder and skin cancer. Although Pittsburgh water’s total trihalomethane (TTHM) levels are within the EPA maximum, they’re 361 times higher than what the EWG recommends as a public health guideline:

• EPA maximum allowance: 80 ppb
• EWG recommended maximum: 0.15 ppb
• Pittsburgh maximum contaminant level: 54.1 ppb

What Else Can Affect Pittsburgh Water Quality?

Disinfection byproducts and other chemicals aren’t the only contaminants to look out for in Pittsburgh tap water. Environmental conditions like the weather can have an impact on Pittsburgh water quality, and some effects may be more serious than others.

For example, cold temperatures can cause your water to appear cloudy due to excess oxygen levels, but it’s still safe to drink. On the other hand, if you have brown water or bad-smelling water, there could be a problem with your pipes or your hot water tank.

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) checks for 100 contaminants every day and conducts 3,000 tests per month, and will let you know if you need to boil your water. You can also attend a Water Workshop to learn more about your water.

Is There Lead In Pittsburgh’s Drinking Water?

Lead pipes are a silent danger in many American water systems, because even small amounts of lead can damage the nervous system, especially in children. According to WESA.fm, lead levels in Pittsburgh are at a “20-year low,” and are below the federal lead action level — but that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to worry about.
The problem is that Pittsburgh’s water distribution system is decades old and contains lead service lines that deposit lead into the water. To address the issue, PWSA uses orthophosphate, which coats the pipes so they don’t leach lead. They’ve also begun work on lead line replacements, although that won’t be complete until 2026.

In the meantime, residents may want to do their own water quality testing to see how much lead is coming out of the tap. You can request a free lead test kit here.

What Is PWSA Doing to Improve Pittsburgh Water Quality?

Pittsburgh’s water supplies are at risk of contamination from fertilizers, pesticides, acid mine drainage, and sewage discharge. A non-profit group called Women for a Healthy Environment also found high levels of forever chemicals, or PFAS, in the water.

PWSA’s long-term Water Reliability Plan will address some of these issues, but these changes will take years to implement. Pittsburgh residents may want to take matters into their own hands and use a water filter to improve their tap water quality.

Which Water Filters Will Improve Pittsburgh Water Quality?

Home water filters are an easy way to improve the taste of your tap water and remove common contaminants, including lead and disinfection byproducts. It doesn’t matter if you use a refrigerator water filter or an under-sink water filter — the important thing is that it’s certified to remove the specific contaminants you want to get rid of.

Look for an NSF 53 filter to remove heavy metals like lead. Reverse osmosis filters are better than activated carbon at removing PFAS, but both will have an impact. For best results, choose a multi-stage filter that incorporates multiple types of filtration

Is Pittsburgh’s Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Pittsburgh’s tap water is technically safe to drink — according to its annual water quality report and the standards of the EPA. But organizations like the EWG and Women for a Healthy Environment have raised concerns that consumers may want to pay attention to, including elevated levels of lead, PFAS, and disinfection byproducts.

If you aren’t sure about Pittsburgh water quality, use a filter like the EZChange 2-Stage Under Counter Under Sink Water Filter to remove common contaminants. Or, schedule a free water test with one of our experts to find out which water filter is right for you.