Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Pittsburgh, PA tap water
11 contaminants were measured in the Pittsburgh, PA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 11
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 0
- Worst contaminant
- TTHM
- Service area
- PA
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Pittsburgh, PA's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 1 source.
Source
- ALLEGHENY RIV MP 8#2
Treatment
- HIGHLAND #2 RES BSTR
- PITTSBURGH WTP
- LANPHER RESERVOIR
- + 7 more
Distribution
Also buys water from PA AMER WATER CO-PITTSBURGH.
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based3 violations on record · most recent Jul 2018resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 17–119 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | At or above the limit |
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 12–34 ug/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.75–1.32 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine Free | 1.11 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 3.6 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.11 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | 1.3 mg/LAction level | Within the limit |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 18–38 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0–0.075 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.83 mg/LReported levelSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 0.37–0.83 mg/LRangeSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.107 NTUReported levelSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
People also ask about Pittsburgh, PA's water
+Is Pittsburgh, PA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Pittsburgh, PA water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: TTHM. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Pittsburgh, PA tap water?
11 contaminants were measured in Pittsburgh, PA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, disinfection byproducts, and inorganic chemicals. 5 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Pittsburgh, PA tap water?
One contaminant in Pittsburgh, PA's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: TTHM (1.5× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Pittsburgh, PA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is TTHM, at 1.5× the federal threshold. It belongs to the disinfection byproducts family of contaminants.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Pittsburgh, PA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Pittsburgh, PA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.