Pittsburgh Water contractor crews coordinate a successful lead service line replacement
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 and substantial changes to lead regulations at the federal level.
The new regulations require utilities to start lead replacement efforts by 2027. Fortunately for our region, Pittsburgh Water is far ahead of this curve. In fact, we’re currently on track to complete all residential lead line replacements by 2027, when many other utilities will be just getting started.
In 2024 alone, Pittsburgh Water...
- 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 our website.
- Provided over 2,500 certified lead water filters and pitchers to customers.
- Completed over 5,100 service line verifications to confirm the material of service lines, 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 U.S. water providers on best practices for starting a lead line replacement program.
These efforts resulted in 1,370 public and 1,255 private lead service line replacements in 2024, a direct investment of over $10.2 million in Pittsburgh Water’s system!
Get the full story in February’s press release.
