Water Quality in Pittsburgh, PA: 126 Violations - Grade N/A
18 water systems · 43 directly mapped ZIP records
Available EPA records report 126 violations across 43 directly mapped ZIP records with known counts for Pittsburgh. This is compliance evidence, not a property-level tap-water verdict.
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Pittsburgh
This table shows typed EPA water evidence only. Missing violation counts are displayed as N/A, not zero.
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15235 | 47 | 2 | View report → |
| 15215 | 44 | 0 | View report → |
| 15205 | 43 | 0 | View report → |
| 15238 | 41 | 16 | View report → |
| 15206 | 38 | 1 | View report → |
| 15208 | 38 | 1 | View report → |
| 15209 | 38 | 0 | View report → |
| 15218 | 38 | 1 | View report → |
| 15221 | 38 | 1 | View report → |
| 15212 | 37 | 0 | View report → |
| 15214 | 37 | 0 | View report → |
| 15204 | 35 | 0 | View report → |
| 15223 | 34 | 0 | View report → |
| 15201 | 33 | 0 | View report → |
| 15203 | 33 | 0 | View report → |
Violation Trend
EPA violations recorded for water systems serving Pittsburgh.
| Year | Total violations | Health-based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8 | 8 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 | 10 | 10 |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 |
Water Quality Overview
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania has directly mapped EPA water-system data for 43 ZIP codes. This page reports typed compliance facts and does not relabel the multi-source Home Safety Score as a drinking-water grade.
The available EPA records report 126 violations, including 21 health-based violations across 43 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts.
Lead Levels
The average 90th percentile lead level across Pittsburgh water systems is 0.0037 mg/L - within EPA limits. No exceedances appear among the 43 ZIP records with known lead status.
With 86% of homes built before 1986, Pittsburgh has a higher-than-average risk of lead from older plumbing. Lead solder was banned in 1986, and homes built before this date may have lead in pipes, solder joints, or fixtures.
Water Systems Serving Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh is served by 18 community water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. These systems collectively serve approximately 690,893 people across 77 ZIP codes.
Each water system is identified by a Public Water System ID (PWSID) and is required to:
- Test for over 90 regulated contaminants on a regular schedule
- Report results to the EPA and state regulators
- Issue an annual Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) to all customers
- Take corrective action when violations occur
The EPA has taken 352 enforcement actions against water systems serving Pittsburgh. Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
How to Check Your Water in Pittsburgh
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup to see your specific water system data, including contaminant levels and violation history
Request your CCR - your water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results for all monitored contaminants
Get a home test - certified kits cost $20–$50 and test for lead, bacteria, and common contaminants. Professional lab tests ($150–$400) cover a broader panel
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can remove specific contaminants. Reverse osmosis removes the broadest range; activated carbon is effective for chlorine and many organics
Check for advisories - monitor your local utility website and local news for boil water advisories or system alerts
Contaminants Detected in Pittsburgh Water Systems
The following contaminants have been detected or caused violations across Pittsburgh's water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | MCL | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | N/A | 60 | 31 | Yes |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | N/A | 52 | 33 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.06 mg/L | 41 | 30 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 38 | 32 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 0.08 mg/L | 37 | 30 | No |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 mg/L | 36 | 30 | No |
| Benzene | Organic | 0.005 mg/L | 29 | 29 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 18 | 4 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | N/A | 12 | 9 | No |
| Atrazine | Organic | 0.003 mg/L | 5 | 5 | No |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 15 pCi/L | 5 | 5 | No |
| Lead | Inorganic | 0.015 mg/L | 2 | 2 | No |
| Copper | Inorganic | 1.3 mg/L | 2 | 2 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | N/A | 1 | 1 | No |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 5 pCi/L | 1 | 1 | No |
MCL = Maximum Contaminant Level (EPA enforceable standard). Health-based violations indicate levels that may pose direct health risks.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded for water systems serving Pittsburgh:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8 | 8 |
| 2022 | 6 | 6 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 |
| 2024 | 10 | 10 |
| 2025 | 1 | 1 |
Violations have decreased from 8 in 2021 to 1 in 2025, indicating improving compliance.
EPA Enforcement History
The EPA and state regulators have taken 60 enforcement actions against water systems serving Pittsburgh. Recent actions:
| Date | Action Type |
|---|---|
| 2026-05-13 | State Filed Judgment |
| 2026-05-13 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-05-04 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-04-08 | State Filed Judgment |
| 2026-04-08 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-04-01 | State Informal Action |
| 2026-02-12 | State Filed Judgment |
| 2026-02-12 | State Informal Enforcement |
| 2026-02-11 | State Filed Judgment |
| 2026-02-11 | State Informal Enforcement |
Enforcement actions range from informal compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties. The most recent action was on 2026-05-13.
Pittsburgh vs. Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
How Pittsburgh's water quality compares to similar cities in Pennsylvania:
| City | Direct EPA ZIPs | Violations | Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh | 43 | 126 | 18 | 690,893 |
| Reading | 10 | 67 | 16 | 226,637 |
| York | 7 | 117 | 6 | 185,956 |
| Harrisburg | 10 | 10 | 4 | 183,427 |
Recommended Water Filters for Pittsburgh
Based on contaminants detected in Pittsburgh's water supply, these filter types are recommended:
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC, whole-house POE)
- Removes: Trihalomethane (TTHM)
- Effectiveness: 80-99%
- Cost range: $400–$2000
- Certification: NSF/ANSI 53
- Recommended products:
Water Quality by ZIP Code in Pittsburgh
EPA coverage and recorded violations can differ across Pittsburgh's ZIP codes. Missing counts are shown as unavailable, not zero:
| ZIP Code | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 15235 | 47 | 2 |
| 15215 | 44 | 0 |
| 15205 | 43 | 0 |
| 15238 | 41 | 16 |
| 15206 | 38 | 1 |
| 15208 | 38 | 1 |
| 15209 | 38 | 0 |
| 15218 | 38 | 1 |
| 15221 | 38 | 1 |
| 15212 | 37 | 0 |
| 15214 | 37 | 0 |
| 15204 | 35 | 0 |
| 15223 | 34 | 0 |
| 15201 | 33 | 0 |
| 15203 | 33 | 0 |
Common Questions About Pittsburgh Water
These are the most common questions residents search for about water quality in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
Is Pittsburgh water hard or soft? Water hardness varies by source. Pittsburgh's 18 water systems use multiple sources. Check your ZIP code report for specific hardness data.
Can I drink Pittsburgh tap water? City-level EPA records cannot determine safety at a specific tap. The measured subset contains 21 health-based violations; check the affected utility record and consider certified testing.
What is the best water filter for Pittsburgh? Based on detected contaminants, a granular activated carbon (gac, whole-house poe) filter is most recommended. See our Water Filter Matcher for personalized recommendations.
Pittsburgh vs. Pennsylvania Average
Understanding how Pittsburgh compares to the broader Pennsylvania average helps contextualize your local water quality. Factors like water source, treatment methods, and infrastructure age all contribute to differences between cities in the same state.
To see how individual neighborhoods compare, check the ZIP code reports below - water quality can vary significantly even within Pittsburgh.
ZIP Codes in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh spans 77 ZIP codes. EPA water-system coverage is available for 43 directly mapped ZIP codes. Check each ZIP code for detailed contaminant data, violation history, and system information.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO database
- Filter recommendations: NSF/ANSI certified products
Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.