PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Water has completed approximately 88% of its residential lead service line program as of Oct. 1, with a goal of replacing all remaining lines by the end of 2027.
The work is part of a decade-long initiative to remove lead from water infrastructure across the utility’s approximately 71,000 residential service connections.
Crews working neighborhood by neighborhood have replaced 16,264 public lead service lines and 12,533 private lead service lines across the service area. Pittsburgh Water estimates its total investment in lead service line removal will approach $400 million by the time the effort is finished.
Mayor Corey O’Connor praised the project as a major step for municipal infrastructure and public health.
“Pittsburgh is proving that when we need investment in the health and sustainability of our neighborhoods, major infrastructure work can be both ambitious and practical,” O’Connor said. “This program represents years of sustained investment and coordination and reaching this stage is a major milestone for the City. Finishing this work will leave Pittsburgh families with stronger infrastructure and a healthier foundation for the future.”
Pittsburgh Water CEO Will Pickering emphasized the utility’s commitment to finishing the remaining replacements.
“This has been an enormous undertaking and we are proud to have made this investment in the health and safety of our residents,” Pickering said. “Nearly 29,000 public and private lead service lines have already been replaced and we’re committed to carrying that momentum through this final stretch. Every replacement means another Pittsburgh household with safer, more modern water infrastructure and we’re excited to keep doing this work for the communities we serve.”
Approximately 8,300 properties still require checking for lead. That total includes work currently underway as well as locations scheduled for future program phases. Based on upcoming inspection findings, utility officials expect to replace between 2,500 and 4,000 additional public lead service lines in 2027, alongside a similar number of private lines.
Work will continue across several construction phases through 2027 as Pittsburgh Water moves toward its goal of replacing all remaining residential lead service lines by the end of that year.
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