PITTSBURGH, PA — Pittsburgh Water has entered the final stage of its long-term initiative to remove residential lead service lines, with approximately 88 percent of the program now complete and a goal of concluding remaining replacements by the end of 2027, city and utility officials announced Wednesday.
As of October 1, crews have replaced 16,264 public lead service lines and 12,533 private lead service lines across the utility’s service area, totaling nearly 29,000 lines replaced. Pittsburgh Water serves approximately 71,000 residential service connections, carrying out neighborhood-by-neighborhood replacements across public and private property.
“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,” Mayor Corey O’Connor said in a statement. “This program represents years of sustained investment and coordination, and reaching this stage is a major milestone for the City.”
According to utility officials, approximately 8,300 properties remain to be checked for lead under active and scheduled project phases. Based on upcoming inspection results, Pittsburgh Water expects to replace between 2,500 and 4,000 additional public lead lines in 2027, alongside a comparable number of private lines.
“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,” said Will Pickering, chief executive officer of Pittsburgh Water. “Every replacement means another Pittsburgh household with safer, more modern water infrastructure.”
Overall investment in the lead line replacement program is projected to approach $400 million upon completion. To support the concluding construction phase, Pittsburgh Water’s Board of Directors has authorized an application for up to $19 million in PENNVEST financing for the 2027 Neighborhood Lead Service Line Replacement Project.
The Pittsburgh Times
editorial@thepittsburghtimes.com
Pittsburgh, PA
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