Is Pittsburgh, PA tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Pennsylvania American Water – Pittsburgh.

3 public water systems serve parts of Pittsburgh. The largest, Pennsylvania American Water – Pittsburgh, serves 686,000 people. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Pennsylvania American Water – Pittsburgh

686,000 people · Surface water · EPA ID PA5020039

Buys treated water from West County Municipal Authority – McKeesport, Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority.

PFAS	Highest average	Limit	Status
PFOA Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFOS Not detected	–	4 ppt	Not detected
PFHxS Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
PFNA Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected
HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected	–	10 ppt	Not detected

ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.

Lead: 4 ppb at the 90th percentile (Sep 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 1

Full Pennsylvania American Water – Pittsburgh results

Across Pennsylvania, 85 of 360 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 76 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Pennsylvania results.

Pittsburgh homes and lead pipes

83%

of homes built before 1980 (Pennsylvania 67%, US 50%)

56%

built before 1950 (Pennsylvania 32%)

52%

of households rent (Pennsylvania 31%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Pittsburgh city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Which system serves your ZIP code

Based on the ZIP codes each system reported serving. Boundaries don't follow ZIP lines exactly, so your water bill is the final word.

System	ZIP codes in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority 520,000 people	15201, 15203, 15206, 15212, 15213, 15214, 15217, 15219, 15222, 15224, 15232, 15233
Pennsylvania American Water – Pittsburgh 686,000 people	15204, 15207, 15208, 15210, 15211, 15216, 15220, 15226

Other water systems serving Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority
520,000 people · Surface water · Pennsylvania · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limitsAlso: 2 health-based violations since 2016
Reserve Township Water Dept
3,204 people · Purchased surface water · Pennsylvania · reported ZIPs here
No PFAS above limits

How nearby cities compare

City	Main water system	PFAS	Lead (90th pct.)
Shaler 6 mi Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority	Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority	None above limits	2 ppb
Ross 6 mi West View Water Authority	West View Water Authority	None above limits	0 ppb
Bethel Park 9 mi Pennsylvania American Water – Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania American Water – Pittsburgh	None above limits	4 ppb
Monroeville 11 mi Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority	Wilkinsburg-Penn Joint Water Authority	None above limits	9.78 ppb
Plum 13 mi Plum Borough Municipal Authority	Plum Borough Municipal Authority	None above limits	3.7 ppb
Moon 13 mi Moon Township Municipal Authority	Moon Township Municipal Authority	Above limit	1.87 ppb

Questions

Is Pittsburgh tap water safe to drink?

Pennsylvania American Water – Pittsburgh had 1 health-based violation since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.

Who supplies water in Pittsburgh, PA?

3 public water systems serve parts of Pittsburgh. The largest is Pennsylvania American Water – Pittsburgh (686,000 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Pittsburgh tap water have PFAS?

None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Pennsylvania American Water – Pittsburgh had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.

Do Pittsburgh homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 83% of Pittsburgh homes as built before 1980 (Pennsylvania: 67%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Pennsylvania American Water – Pittsburgh's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.

Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.