Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority
EPA ID: PA5020038 · 520,000 people served · 29 ZIP codes
ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PA5020038): 33 EPA violations in the last five years. In the five-year tracking period, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority filed 33 violations - each has been cleared, and the utility now meets all federal standards for its 520,000 residents.
Data: EPA SDWIS
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade D
Service Area Demographics
The Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority serves a community with a median household income of $66,931 and an estimated 426,540 residents across its service area. Approximately 87% 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.
Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Contaminant 2015 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.0005 mg/L. Probable carcinogen; liver & thyroid damage, immune suppression. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Benzene at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.005 mg/L.
Contaminant 2110 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.005 mg/L. Leukemia & blood cancers (known carcinogen). Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
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.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.
Contaminant 2015 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 Authority (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 29 ZIP codes across 1 community.
ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (46/100)
This is the average Home Safety Score for 16 of 29 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.
Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.
Violation History
Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 33 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Fecal Coliform | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2005 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2010 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2015 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2020 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2032 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2033 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2034 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2036 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2037 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2040 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2041 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2042 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2046 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Benzene | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2051 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2063 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2065 | Non-health-based | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 2005 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2010 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2015 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2020 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2032 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2033 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2034 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2036 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2037 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2040 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2041 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2042 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2046 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Benzene | Organic | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2051 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:
| Lead Level | Exceeds Action Level | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|
| 0.002 mg/L | No | N/A |
No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.
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: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by PA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.
- 15201 - Pittsburgh
- 15203 - Pittsburgh
- 15204 - Pittsburgh
- 15205 - Pittsburgh
- 15206 - Pittsburgh
- 15207 - Pittsburgh
- 15208 - Pittsburgh
- 15209 - Pittsburgh
- 15210 - Pittsburgh
- 15211 - Pittsburgh
- 15212 - Pittsburgh
- 15213 - Pittsburgh
- 15214 - Pittsburgh
- 15215 - Pittsburgh
- 15217 - Pittsburgh
- 15218 - Pittsburgh
- 15219 - Pittsburgh
- 15220 - Pittsburgh
- 15221 - Pittsburgh
- 15222 - Pittsburgh
- 15223 - Pittsburgh
- 15224 - Pittsburgh
- 15226 - Pittsburgh
- 15232 - Pittsburgh
- 15233 - Pittsburgh
- 15235 - Pittsburgh
- 15260 - Pittsburgh
- 15282 - Pittsburgh
- 15290 - Pittsburgh
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?
The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority; its 33 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.
How many people does Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority serve?
Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority serves approximately 520,000 people across 29 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.
Where does Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
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 →
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
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PA): 33 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa5020038/
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author = {{ZipCheckup}},
title = {{Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PA): 33 EPA Violations}},
year = {n.d.},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa5020038/}
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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.