PWSA Hits Lead Line Milestone; Water Quality Data Lacking | The Locally Times
A January press release from the authority announced the milestone, but public documents do not contain data to substantiate water quality claims or detail the program's remaining scope and cost.
## Authority Announces Milestone The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) announced it has replaced its 14,000th lead service line. According to the authority’s “News & Events” webpage, viewed on February 27, 2026, this information was communicated in a press release dated January 8, 2026. The announcement marks a numerical milestone in the city’s effort to remove lead pipes, a primary source of lead contamination in drinking water. The headline of the press release, as listed on the PWSA website, also claims the program improves water quality. ## Key Program Details Not Public While the authority’s announcement highlights the number of lines replaced, the public summary on its website does not provide data to substantiate the claim of improved water quality. The posting does not contain specific metrics, such as measured reductions in lead levels in the water of homes where lines were replaced. Furthermore, public records do not specify other key details of the program. The documents do not state the location of the 14,000th replacement or the timeframe over which the replacements occurred. The authority has also not published the total estimated number of lead service lines remaining, a projected timeline for completion, or the program's total budget. Information on the cost of the 14,000 replacements completed to date and the financial impact on ratepayers is also not specified in the announcement. ## Upcoming Public Meetings The PWSA’s public schedule includes a board meeting on the morning of February 27, 2026, and a Community Design Workshop for the Highland Reservoir Hillside Safety Project on February 28, 2026. The agenda for the board meeting, as posted on the authority's website, was not included in the "News & Events" listing. Public records do not indicate if details on the lead line program's cost, scope, or water quality impact will be presented at these events.