What contaminants are in Pittsburgh tap water?

Public data sources identify the following contaminants in Pittsburgh's water supply: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Dibromochloromethane, Chloroform, Dibromoacetic acid, Trichloroacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Chromium (hexavalent), Bromoform, Bromochloromethane, Barium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Monochloroacetic acid, Monobromoacetic acid, Strontium, Lead, Fluoride. Levels and comparison to EWG health guidelines are listed on the full city page.

Which water utility serves Pittsburgh?

Pittsburgh is served by WEST VIEW WATER AUTHORITY and 1 other water systems. WEST VIEW WATER AUTHORITY serves approximately 200,000 residents.

Tap Water Quality Report

Tap water quality in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Q: Is the tap water in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania safe to drink?

Pittsburgh's tap water receives a grade of C (74/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline, Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline, Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline, Lead detected in source water, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Grades are based on EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database, and the utility's published Consumer Confidence Report.

Served by 2 public water systems. 720,000 residents.

Average score 74/100

Utilities 2

Population 720,000

74/100

Average

ⓘ How did we get this rating?

Quick answer

Tap water in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania receives a grade of C (74/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by 2 public water systems, primarily WEST VIEW WATER AUTHORITY. The most significant water quality concerns are: Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline; Lead detected in source water; Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.

Data sources for this grade: utilities.csv EWG Tap Water Database ⓘ How did we get this rating?

What's in Pittsburgh's tap water

Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utilities serving Pittsburgh.

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 23.1 ppb, 384x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 36.8 ppb, 245x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.

Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Bromodichloromethane detected at 11.1 ppb, 185x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.

Lead detected in source water

Severe concern

Lead detected at 5.1 ppb. EWG considers no level of lead safe; EPA's action level is 15 ppb.

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

Moderate concern

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) detected at 32.0 ppb, 320x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.

EPA compliance record

Official U.S. EPA records for WEST VIEW WATER AUTHORITY (system ID PA5020043) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.

No health-based violations. EPA recorded 2 quarters with a testing, reporting or notice violation.

2 of 12quarters with a violation

Nolead above EPA action level

09/27/2024last state inspection

Rule	Type	Since	Status
Interim and Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule	Missed testing or reporting	06/01/2025	Resolved

Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.

Water systems serving Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is served by 2 public water systems. Click any utility to see its complete grade card and treatment plant contact info.

75/100

WEST VIEW WATER AUTHORITY

Serves 200,000 residents

Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Bromodichloromethane significantly above health guideline

View full grade card →

72/100

PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH

Serves 520,000 residents

Lead detected in source water
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline

View full grade card →

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Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Pittsburgh's water supply.

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All contaminants detected in Pittsburgh's tap water

Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. Why we show multiple standards →

🇪🇺

Pittsburgh's tap water would fail European Union drinking water standards. One or more detected contaminants exceed EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184 limits, even though they may be fully legal under US EPA rules. View the standards we compare against →

Contaminant	Detected	EWG US health-based	EPA US legal	EU DWD Europe	WHO global	CA PHG strictest US	Tested sample year	Status
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct	23.1 ppb	0.06	—	—	—	—	—	384× over
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct	32.0 ppb	0.1	60	60	—	—	2024	320× over
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct	36.8 ppb	0.15	80.0	100	—	—	—	245× over
Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct	11.1 ppb	0.06	—	—	—	—	—	185× over
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct	11.2 ppb	0.1	60.0	60	—	—	—	112× over
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct	58.3 ppb	0.6	80	100	—	—	2023	97× over
Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct	6.69 ppb	0.1	—	—	—	—	—	67× over
Chloroform Disinfection byproduct	18.1 ppb	0.4	—	—	—	—	—	45× over
Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct	1.15 ppb	0.03	—	—	—	—	—	38× over
Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct	3.48 ppb	0.1	—	—	—	—	—	35× over
Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct	6.33 ppb	0.2	—	—	—	—	—	32× over
Nitrate Inorganic	0.913 ppm	0.14	10.0	11.3	11.3	10	—	6.5× over
Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal	0.065 ppb	0.02	—	—	—	—	—	3.3× over
Bromoform Disinfection byproduct	0.861 ppb	0.5	—	—	—	—	—	1.7× over
Bromochloromethane Other	0.015 ppb	0.06	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Barium Heavy metal	28.7 ppb	700.0	2000.0	—	1300	2000	—	Below guideline
Manganese Heavy metal	1.43 ppb	100.0	—	50	80	—	—	Below guideline
Molybdenum Other	0.313 ppb	40.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct	0.219 ppb	53.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct	0.0481 ppb	25.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Strontium Radiological	0.128 ppb	1500.0	—	—	—	—	—	Below guideline
Lead Heavy metal	6.03 ppb	0	15	5	10	0.2	2022	Fails EU
Fluoride Inorganic	0.482 ppm	—	4.0	1.5	1.5	—	—	Below guideline

Contaminant	Detected (2024)	EWG	EPA	EU DWD	WHO	CA PHG	Status
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct	32.0 ppb	0.1	60	60	—	—	320× over

Contaminant	Detected (2023)	EWG	EPA	EU DWD	WHO	CA PHG	Status
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct	58.3 ppb	0.6	80	100	—	—	97× over

Contaminant	Detected (2022)	EWG	EPA	EU DWD	WHO	CA PHG	Status
Lead Heavy metal	6.03 ppb	0	15	5	10	0.2	Fails EU

All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.

Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.