PWSA identifies aging or undersized water mains throughout its service area on an annual basis.
This year, PWSA will replace 10 miles of aging water mains throughout the water service area. As we replace water mains, we will replace hundreds of lead water service lines, improving water quality for many of our customers. Work will take place in nine different neighborhoods throughout the PWSA water service area. Those who will have a water main on their street replaced will received a packet in the mail detailing the lead service line replacement process that may occur at their property. The PWSA Lead Help Staff will work with residents who have lead lines to replace them at no direct cost.
How is a water main replaced?
A typical water main and service line entering a property.
The process to replace a water main begins in the design process, when engineers survey the work area to determine exactly which materials and methods will be needed to complete the work. They will take exact measurements of the street and take survey samples of the soil to draw up construction plans. After these plans are turned over to the construction team, work can begin.
Crews will start the process by going to each property and inspecting the service line material at every property attached to the old water main. This will help determine which sites have lead service lines that need replaced.
After verification, crews will begin to lay down the new water main. The old water main will be left in place. During water main replacement, residents can expect to see no-parking signs on their street during this work.
The next step of the process is to run new service lines from the new water main. All publicly-owned service lines, regardless of material, will be replaced. At this point, any private lead service lines that were found will be replaced to avoid potentially harmful partial lead line replacements.
The final step of the project is restoration of streets and sidewalks. You can expect a delay between the completion of your service line replacement and restoration activities.
Where will work occur?
Three PWSA contractors will have crews working in the following neighborhoods throughout our service area. Click on your neighborhood to see where water mains will be replaced:
2023 Water Main Replacement Neighborhoods
Marshall Shadeland - UPCOMING
Work will begin as early as July 2023.
North Side - UPCOMING
Work will begin as early as July 2023.
Spring Garden - UPCOMING
Work will begin as early as July 2023.
Millvale - UPCOMING
Work will begin as early as July 2023.
Stanton Heights - UPCOMING
Work will begin as early as July 2023.
Elliott - UPCOMING
Work will begin as early as July 2023.
Point Breeze - UPCOMING
Work will begin as early as July 2023.
Squirrel Hill - UPCOMING
Work will begin as early as July 2023.
Stanton Heights - UPCOMING
Work will begin as early as July 2023.
2022 Water Main Replacement Neighborhoods
Point Breeze - RESTORATION
- Thomas Boulevard (N. Lang Avenue - N. Lexington Street)
- Meade Place (N. Murtland Street - midway to N. Homewood Avenue)
For more construction updates, visit the project page.
Central Oakland - RESTORATION
- Parkview Avenue (Semple Street - Boulevard of the Allies)
- Oakland Avenue (Bates Street - Dawson Street)
- Pier Street (Oakland Avenue - Bouquet Street)
- Whitney Street (Oakland Avenue - dead end)
- Mckee Place (Forbes Avenue - Bates Street)
- Coltart Avenue (Forbes Avenue - Louisa Street)
- Chesterfield Road - 5th Avenue - Terrace Place)
- Ophelia Street (Hamlet Street - Craft Place)
For more construction updates, visit the project page.
Hazelwood - ACTIVE
- Hazelwood Avenue (Bigelow Street - Sylvan Avenue)
For more construction updates, visit the project page.
Shadyside/Squirrel Hill - ACTIVE
- Morewood Avenue (Ellsworth Avenue - 5th Avenue)
- Castleman Street (Morewood Avenue - midway to Amberson Avenue)
- Gladstone Road
- Bellerock Street (Wilkins Avenue - Woodmont Street)
For more construction updates, visit the project page.
Central Lawrenceville/Bloomfield - COMPLETE
- Summit Street
- Saint Johns Way
- Dunkeld Way
- Garwood Way
- Post Street
- Comrie Way (Friendship Avenue - Cullen Street)
- Carroll Street (Friendship Avenue - Edmond Street)
- Rosina Way (Honey Street - Ella Street)
For more construction updates, visit the project page.
Highland Park - COMPLETE
- Hays Street (Negley Avenue - Euclid Avenue)
- Portland Way (Hays Street - midway to Livery Way)
- Portland Street (Stanton Avenue - Jackson Street)
- N. Saint Clair Street (Hays Street - Wellesley Avenue)
- N. Euclid Avenue (Wayne Road - Hays Street)
- Jackson Street (Portland Street - Euclid Avenue)
- Wayne Road (Euclid Avenue - Highland Avenue)
For more construction updates, visit the project page.
Questions?
Visit the neighborhood project pages for more information on construction progress or contact Construction Communications Project Manager, Mora McLaughlin, at 412-689-4137 or at mmclaughlin@pgh2o.com.
For lead service line replacement-related questions, contact the Lead Help Desk at 412-255-8987 or email LeadHelp@pgh2o.com.