The settlement, negotiated by local groups, will address the city’s longstanding lead pollution while prioritizing the health of the most vulnerable residents.
Examples (from left) of a lead pipe, a corroded steel pipe and a lead pipe treated with protective orthophosphate
Under an agreement negotiated by community groups represented by the NRDC and the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) will remove thousands of lead water pipes by 2026 to address the chronically high levels of lead in the city’s drinking water and protect the health of the residents.
“During this global pandemic, it is more important than ever that PWSA provide safe drinking water to all residents of the city, that Pittsburgh residents continue to be instrumental in how interest payers’ dollars are spent, and that we do all we can to address the problem to resolve the most vulnerable people in our communities, ”said Jennifer Rafanan Kennedy, executive director of Pittsburgh United, a coalition of work, faith and environmental groups that helped negotiate the settlement.
Under the settlement recently approved by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, PWSA must prioritize replacements for residents in high-risk neighborhoods. It must also limit the practice of replacing only part of a lead service line, which can cause lead levels to rise significantly.
PWSA will also expand its free tap water filtration program to include low-income tenants whose homes may have plumbing, piped homes where PWSA is replacing a water meter, and all customers whose tap water contains at least 10 parts per billion of lead.
“The aggressive steps described in the settlement to get the leadership out of Pittsburgh are necessary to protect the health of children and families,” said NRDC attorney Pete DeMarco. “The exposure to lead-contaminated water falls most heavily on low-income families and color communities. That is why it is so important to prioritize the replacement of lead service lines in the parts of the city where residents are most at risk. “
Under the leadership of Pittsburgh United, residents gather to call for clean water for their communities.
Courtesy Pittsburgh United
Pittsburgh’s drinking water has been contaminated with lead since at least 2016 and is above the federal limit for five of the last eight test periods. There is no safe level of lead exposure: the heavy metal can cause severe and irreversible damage to the body, including the nervous system, fertility and cognitive abilities, and putting children at a particularly high risk.
Pittsburgh is only the latest in a growing list of cities facing drinking water crises, such as Flint, Michigan and Newark, New Jersey. In 2016, the NRDC analysis found that more than 18 million people were served by 5,363 municipal water systems that violated the lead-copper rule. Pittsburgh United, however, said the settlement could now set a model for other cities with lead-contaminated drinking water. “Safe water is a right, not a luxury,” says Kennedy. “While there is still a lot of work to be done to ensure that all customers have access to safe and affordable service, PWSA is on the way to replacing all senior home service lines with this move.”
Pittsburgh residents who want to know if their home has a lead water pipe in need of replacement or if they are eligible for a free filter can call 412-255-8987 or [email protected] contact the PWSA Lead Helpdesk.
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