Pittsburgh Water continues to be a regional and national leader in lead pipe replacements. Last year marked the eighth year of our Community Lead Response program and was a busy and future-focused one for us, seeing the replacement of our 12,000th lead service line, several high-profile media engagements, and substantial changes to lead regulations at the federal level.
New federal lead regulations rolled out in 2024 require that utilities around the country prepare to start lead replacement efforts by 2027. Fortunately for our region, Pittsburgh Water's Community Lead Response, launched in 2016, places us far ahead of this curve. In fact, we’re on track to complete all residential lead line replacements by 2027, when many other utilities will just be getting started.
In 2024, Pittsburgh Water…
- Sent letters to all remaining water customers with a record of "lead," "galvanized iron," or "unknown" service line material. This notification complies with new federal regulations and provides customers with the best possible information about their service line material.
- Distributed over 2,400 free lead water test kits to customers curious about the water quality in their home. Free kits are available to residential water customers on the Pittsburgh Water website.
- Provided over 2,500 certified lead water filters and pitchers to customers. Filters are left at all lead line replacement locations and are sent to homes with elevated lead testing.
- Completed over 5,100 service line verifications to confirm the material of service lines around Pittsburgh, improving inventory records and identifying lead lines to be replaced.
- Reimbursed 55 homeowners through the Lead Line Reimbursement Program, allowing them to proactively replace their lead line by working through a private plumber.
- Consulted with 10 other water providers across the nation on best practices for starting a lead line replacement program.
- Fielded over 20,000 calls and 13,000 emails to a dedicated Lead Help Desk.
These efforts resulted in 1,370 public and 1,255 private lead service line replacements in 2024, an investment of over $10.2 million in the health and safety of Pittsburgh Water’s system.
News of Pittsburgh Water’s Community Lead Response has made its way to all levels of government, resulting in two high-profile lead events last year. In February, Pittsburgh Water hosted former Vice President Kamala Harris at a lead service line replacement site in Elliott, as part of her visit to Pittsburgh highlighting the dangers of lead in the environment. The former vice president, as well as state and local leaders, touted the progress of the Community Lead Response and the strategic use of federal funds to advance this work.
In October, Pittsburgh Water welcomed former EPA Head of Water Bruno Pigott on his national tour highlighting investments to remove lead in drinking water. In his speech, he congratulated Pittsburgh Water on leading the nation in this effort.