Pittsburgh To Remove Lead Water Pipes by 2026

March 2020

Agreement Prioritizes Homes with Highest Risk from Lead-Contaminated Drinking Water

Pittsburgh’s lead water pipes will be removed by 2026 under an agreement finalized with community groups concerned about the city’s chronically-high levels of lead in its drinking water. The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) approved the settlement, which requires the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) to create a plan to replace thousands of lead lines currently carrying drinking water to city residents.

Pittsburgh United, a coalition of labor, faith, and environmental groups that convenes the Our Water Campaign, negotiated the settlement with several other organizations, represented by lawyers from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project.

Said Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy, Executive Director of Pittsburgh United: “Safe water is a right, not a luxury. Although work remains to be done to ensure all customers have access to safe and affordable service, this settlement puts PWSA on a path to replacing all residential lead service lines. Aspects of the program can provide a model for other utilities in Pennsylvania and elsewhere, such as offering free lead service line replacements whenever PWSA replaces a portion of the line and prioritizing vulnerable neighborhoods for replacements.”