Facts About Lead in Drinking Water

Understanding Lead in Water

Lead is a common metal that has long been used in construction, plumbing, and other applications because it is abundant and easy to work with. However, lead is toxic, and high levels of exposure can cause serious health problems. While unsafe for anyone, it poses the greatest risk to pregnant women and children under six, as research shows it can slow normal physical and mental development.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lead in Drinking Water

A typical Pittsburgh Water service line

Where does the lead found in tap water come from?

While there is no detectable lead in Pittsburgh Water’s drinking water when it leaves the treatment plant and travels through water mains, lead can contaminate drinking water through lead service lines or plumbing fixtures.

A residential lead service line is a shared responsibility: Pittsburgh Water owns the portion of the water line that runs between the water main and curb, and homeowners own the portion between the curb and their homes.

Why do some properties have high levels of detected lead?

Our corrosion control treatment reduces lead levels across our water service area. However, some homes may still show elevated lead levels through water sampling. Elevated results can occur when a home has low or infrequent water use. Without regular water flow, orthophosphate—the protective coating that helps prevent lead from entering the water—cannot fully form inside lead service lines or interior plumbing. Using certified filters or filtered pitchers can provide an added layer of protection if needed.

How does Pittsburgh Water test homes for lead?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires that we regularly request water samples from homes that were determined to have a lead water service line or plumbing. Results from the most recent test can be found at pgh2o.com/water-quality.

What's next?

We modified our water treatment process to reduce corrosion in lead pipes throughout the entire water system using orthophosphate. An extensive study completed by our water quality team showed that orthophosphate will be most effective at reducing corrosion from lead pipes. Orthophosphate improves water quality for all customers with lead service lines while we work to remove all lead lines from the system. Orthophosphate is widely used across the country to reduce lead in water.

The Community Lead Response program is replacing thousands of lead service lines throughout our water distribution system at no direct cost to our customers. Changes to state law allow us to perform lead service line replacements on private property as part of the replacement program, preventing potentially harmful partial lead service line replacements.

What can I do to reduce risk of exposure to lead?

If you know or suspect that you have a lead service line or plumbing, there are ways to reduce your exposure to lead in your drinking water:

  • Test your water for lead. Call us at 412-255-8987 or go to pgh2o.com/leadform to request a free lead test kit. This service is available to residential homes that receive drinking water from Pittsburgh Water.
  • Run your water to flush out lead. If you haven’t used your water for several hours, run your cold tap for one minute before using for cooking or drinking. Homes with longer service lines may require flushing for a longer period of time. Using toilets, washing clothes, showering, or doing dishes before you drink from your tap are all ways that you can flush your interior plumbing.
  • Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula. Lead dissolves more easily in hot water. Do not drink, cook with, or make baby formula using hot water.
  • Do not boil water to remove lead. Boiling water does not remove or reduce lead exposure.
  • Look for alternative sources or treatment of water. Purchase a NSF Water filter that is certified to remove lead. Customers can also choose to drink bottled water.
  • Identify if your plumbing fixtures contain lead. Lead check swabs are available at hardware stores to help you detect lead on plumbing surfaces, such as solder and pipes. Consider replacing pipes and fixtures that contain lead.
  • Get your child’s blood tested. If you think that your child may have been exposed to lead, talk to your doctor about testing your child. Allegheny County requires all children to be tested for lead exposure at approximately 9-12 months and again at 24 months.
Lead Filters and Other Products

Resources

  • To request a free customer lead test kit: Call Pittsburgh Water’s Lead Help Desk at 412-255-8987 or go to pgh2o.com/leadform
  • Customers who replace their private lead service line proactively may receive up to 100%reimbursement of the costs. For more information, please call Pittsburgh Water’s PGH2O Cares at 412-255-2457 or email LeadReimbursement@pgh2o.com
  • For any other questions regarding the lead program or lead service line replacement, please call Pittsburgh Water’s Lead Help Desk at 412-255-8987 or email LeadHelp@pgh2o.com
  • We have created a map that displays the best available information on the location of lead service lines in our water system, including historical property data, construction records, and results from curb box inspections. To see if your home may have a lead service line, visit pgh2o.com/leadmap
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