Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH
PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH delivers tap water graded C (72/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 520,000 residents in PITTSBURGH, Pennsylvania using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: Lead detected in source water; Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 412-255-8946.
Is PITTSBURGH tap water safe to drink?
PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (72/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 520,000 residents in PITTSBURGH, drawing from surface water. Despite being legal under US EPA standards, this water would fail the European Union's Drinking Water Directive, primarily due to lead detected in source water.
Public testing data identifies 9 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Lead, Lead, Lead. For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH (system ID PA5020038) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim and Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2025 | Resolved |
| Synthetic Organic Chemicals | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2023 | Resolved |
| Stage 2 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 07/01/2025 | Resolved |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for PITTSBURGH residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH.
Lead detected in source water
Severe concernLead 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 concernHaloacetic Acids (HAA5) detected at 32.0 ppb, 320x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for PITTSBURGH
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for lead (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750When lead is a concern, use a filter certified for lead reduction under NSF/ANSI 53 or 58.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 72/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
32.0 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2024 | 320× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
30.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2022 | 309× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
25.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 2023 | 254× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
58.3 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2023 | 97× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
52.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2022 | 87× over |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
47.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 2024 | 78× over |
| Lead Heavy metal |
5.1 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2024 | Fails EU |
| Lead Heavy metal |
3.6 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2023 | — |
| Lead Heavy metal |
6.03 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | 2022 | Fails EU |
| Contaminant | Detected (2024) | EWG | EPA | EU DWD | WHO | CA PHG | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Heavy metal |
5.1 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | Fails EU |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
47.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 78× over |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead Heavy metal |
3.6 ppb | 0 | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0.2 | — |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
58.3 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 97× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
25.4 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 254× 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 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
52.0 ppb | 0.6 | 80 | 100 | — | — | 87× over |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
30.9 ppb | 0.1 | 60 | 60 | — | — | 309× over |
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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH service area
This water system serves 1 community in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for PITTSBURGH water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.