PWSA contractor crews coordinate a successful lead service line replacement.

When you spot PWSA crews in your neighborhood working on water lines, lining sewer pipes, or rehabbing aging infrastructure, you can be confident that those efforts will, over time, result in fewer service interruptions like water main breaks and low-pressure events, which may have caused boil water advisories in the past.

Strengthening the Pipe Network
In 2023, we replaced more than five miles of water main and lined more than 13 miles of sewer pipe. This work fortifies our network of pipes so that we can safely bring water to your home and carry it away as it leaves your house through the sewer system.

Removing Lead Lines Block-by-Block
Paramount to drinking water safety and protecting public health for customers now and in the future is our community-based approach to removing lead service lines. Since 2016, we've replaced more than 11,000 lead service lines and are continuing to go block-by-block, neighborhood-by-neighborhood to remove any lead pipe we encounter. This means we’re well on our way towards our goal of replacing all lead service lines in our water distribution system by 2026.

Additionally, our most recent round of lead testing reflects lead levels well below the state and federal action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). This is PWSA’s seventh consecutive round of testing. With results of 3.58 ppb — remaining historically low for Pittsburgh — customers can have confidence in the effectiveness of our treatment process and trust in our commitment to protecting public health.

Water Reliability Plan Progress
With our water system more than a century-old, we are moving ahead with our Water Reliability Plan – a series of once-in-a-generation projects to transform Pittsburgh’s water system.

Since 2022, we've replaced the cover and liner at the covered Highland Reservoir and restored two large-diameter water mains within the vicinity of Highland Park. Construction of a new pump station in Highland Park started earlier this year. When complete, it will improve service reliability to two-thirds of our drinking water customers.

Projects on the horizon include the rehabilitation of the Aspinwall Pump Station, the replacement of the Bruecken Pump Station and the construction of a new bypass pipe around the Clearwell, which is located at the Water Treatment Plant. The plan culminates with the complete restoration of the Clearwell – originally built in 1912 and the final step of our drinking water treatment process. Its replacement will add redundancy and ensure secure and reliable water services for the next century.

Learn More About Our Recent Accomplishments
This month, we released our 2023 Year in Review – our annual report that shows the progress we are making to improve the water services you rely on. 

Meant to inform and build confidence, we encourage you to review the report to learn about our projects and programs and the essential services we provide for the health and well-being of you – our customers.