Lead Pipes | 90.5 WESA

Lead Levels In Pittsburgh Drinking Water In Compliance, For Now

By Sarah Boden • Jul 26, 2018

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority is back in compliance for the amount of lead in its drinking water, according to results from the latest round of testing showing levels at 10 parts per billion.

Pittsburgh Will Add Chemical To Water To Reduce Lead Risk

By Associated Press • May 18, 2018

Pittsburgh officials have received approval from the state to add a chemical to its water supply to help reduce lead contamination.

Peduto: ‘It Isn’t Pittsburgh And Flint,’ Many Cities Have Elevated Lead In Their Water

By Kevin Gavin • Apr 12, 2017

More than 100 people gathered Tuesday evening at a town hall called “Not Another Flint” to discuss the water challenges confronting Pittsburgh.

“It isn’t Pittsburgh and Flint as some people are trying to make it out to be,” Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto said. “There are over 5,330 other water systems in the United States that have the same elevated lead.”

How To Get Lead Out Of Your Water: Flushing, Filters And Lead Line Replacement

By Liz Reid • Mar 30, 2017

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Meet two homeowners with high lead levels in the water and find out what they're doing to fix it.

Every day, multiple times a day, Jesse Perkins runs the water in his kitchen sink for about a minute-and-a-half, until it runs cold, indicating that it’s fresh water from the main in the middle of his street. He does it before he fills up a glass of water or a pot for cooking.

Hidden Poison: Essential Reading On Pittsburgh's Lead Problem

By Patrick Doyle • Mar 20, 2017

Twenty stories—and one controller's audit!—to get you up to speed on Pittsburgh's lead problem, from our partners and other local outlets.

“Pittsburgh to Provide Water Filters to All Residents to Reduce Lead Exposure"
90.5 WESA News
March 8, 2017

Pittsburgh To Provide Water Filters To All Residents To Reduce Lead Exposure

By Margaret J. Krauss • Mar 8, 2017

With no exceptions, the $1 million Safe Water Plan will distribute water filters to city residents to reduce exposure to lead. People living within the city’s boundaries are eligible to receive one, regardless of income level, whether they rent or own, or who their water provider is.

While it’s a start, Mayor Bill Peduto said this is not a long-term solution.

Peduto Promises Not To Privatize Water But Says New System Is Needed

By Kevin Gavin • Feb 15, 2017

A flush and boil water advisory affecting 100,000 Pittsburghers earlier this month, delays in lead test results and billing snafus have led Mayor Bill Peduto to call for an advisory panel to mull the idea of restructuring the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.

Residents To PWSA Executives: ‘Why Should We Trust You?’

By Liz Reid • Jan 5, 2017

At more than three hours, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority officials said the informational meeting they held Wednesday in Lawrenceville was one of the longest yet.

Pittsburgh Public Schools Begin Tests To Determine Quality Of Drinking Water

By Dan Priore • Jun 16, 2016

Water used for drinking and preparing food at Pittsburgh Public Schools is now being tested for lead.

The Allegheny County Health Department will work with Pittsburgh Public Schools and local water authorities to pinpoint and shut-off dangerous outlets throughout the 70 district facilities. All testing will take place this summer.

Even though there is no federal or state law requiring drinking water to be tested for lead, Pittsburgh Public Schools Chief Operations Officer Ronald Joseph said district officials want to take a proactive approach.

DEP Secretary: City Water Safe To Drink, But PWSA Must Follow Rules

By Josh Raulerson • Apr 29, 2016

In 2014, the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority changed the treatment chemical used to prevent the corrosion of lead pipes, which keeps the toxic metal from leaching into drinking water.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection said the switch—from soda ash to caustic soda—posed no threat to public health, but the DEP has cited PWSA for not clearing the change with the agency first, as is required by the state's safe drinking water regulations.

More Than 100 Pennsylvania Water Systems Reported Lead Levels Above Federal Limit

By Marielle Segarra & Keystone Crossroads • Apr 18, 2016

More than 100 water systems in Pennsylvania have had lead levels above a federal threshold at least once since 2013, according to an Associated Press analysis of the data.

Harrisburg Offers Ambitious Proposals To Minimize Lead Exposure In Pa. Cities

By Eleanor Klibanoff & Keystone Crossroads • Mar 24, 2016

Surrounded by state health officials and fellow lawmakers, Senator Vincent Hughes said, "The only thing good that came out of the lead crisis in Flint, Mich., is a renewed, intense effort from states around the country to attempt to address what's going on with lead in their respective communities."