Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority
EPA ID: PA5020038 · 520,000 people served · 105 ZIP codes
In the five-year tracking period, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority filed 11 violations — each has been cleared, and the utility now meets all federal standards for its 520,000 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 82 (2024) to 3 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority serves a community with a median household income of $71,902 and an estimated 919,555 residents across its service area. Approximately 82% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
E. coli at 2 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.
Fecal Coliform at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 4 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH (EPA ID: PA5020038) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 520,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 105 ZIP codes across 28 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (60/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2025 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| May 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| May 1, 2023 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2959 | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2959 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | Yes |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15201 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15203 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15204 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15205 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15206 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15207 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15208 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15209 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15210 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15211 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15212 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15213 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15214 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15215 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15216 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15217 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15218 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15219 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15220 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 15221 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 29 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 76 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 105 ZIP codes:
15017 · 15025 · 15028 · 15034 · 15038 15045 · 15055 · 15064 · 15088 · 15090 15106 · 15120 · 15123 · 15126 · 15127 15129 · 15136 · 15142 · 15201 · 15202 15203 · 15204 · 15205 · 15206 · 15207 15208 · 15209 · 15210 · 15211 · 15212 15213 · 15214 · 15215 · 15216 · 15217 15218 · 15219 · 15220 · 15221 · 15222 15223 · 15224 · 15225 · 15226 · 15227 15228 · 15229 · 15230 · 15231 · 15232 15233 · 15234 · 15235 · 15236 · 15237 15238 · 15239 · 15240 · 15241 · 15242 15243 · 15244 · 15250 · 15251 · 15252 15253 · 15254 · 15255 · 15257 · 15258 15259 · 15260 · 15261 · 15262 · 15263 15264 · 15265 · 15267 · 15268 · 15270 15272 · 15273 · 15274 · 15275 · 15276 15277 · 15278 · 15279 · 15281 · 15282 15283 · 15286 · 15288 · 15289 · 15290 15295 · 15317 · 15332 · 15339 · 15342 15347 · 15350 · 15363 · 15632 · 15668
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PA5020038) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority water safe to drink?
Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority has recorded 1 health-based violation in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority serve?
Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority serves approximately 520,000 people across 105 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.
Where does Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
A Source Water Assessment of Pittsburgh Water's intake water (located on the Allegheny River) was completed in 2010 by the PADEP. The Assessment has found that our source water is potentially most susceptible to road deicing materials, accidental spills along railroad tracks, and leaks from submerged pipelines and storage tanks. Overall, the Allegheny River Watershed has a moderate risk of significant contamination.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Watershed exposure sources reported
Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
PFAS Substances Detected in This System
This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.
In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →
Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.
Construction crews replaced over 1,300 lead service lines last year, working closely with residents to coordinate replacements. ... aggressive Community Lead Response initiative keeps us on pace to remove all residential lead service lines from our system by 2027.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
Notable events and violations
This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.
Federal compliance violations on record
These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).
-
monitoring · Turbidity2025-01-09
During January 9, 2025 we failed to monitor the following contaminants and therefore cannot be sure of the quality of our drinking water at that time.
Violations record from Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Consumer Confidence Report.
Notable events from the utility's CCR
These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.
- 2024 was another successful year for lead reduction efforts under the Community Lead Response. Construction crews replaced over 1,300 lead service lines last year.
ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.
How Water Systems Appear in Rankings
Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (EPA ID: PA5020038) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.