What was found in Pittsburgh's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 1290 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019 | 3/11 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 962.2 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019 | 3/11 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 85 µg/L 8.5% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 326 µg/L — WEST VIEW WATER AUTHORITY · 200,000 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 144.975 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 296.5 µg/L — VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HEINZ · 3,112 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 107.1 µg/L 134% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 109.8 µg/L — RESERVE TWP WATER DEPT · 3,204 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 56.15 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 67.19 µg/L — PLUM BORO MUNI AUTH · 27,500 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 28 µg/L 47% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 49.8 µg/L — PLUM BORO MUNI AUTH · 27,500 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 49.45 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019 | 3/11 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 45 µg/L 23% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 33.885 µg/L 226% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 28.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 32.195 µg/L — RESERVE TWP WATER DEPT · 3,204 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 30.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 18.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 30.515 µg/L — PLUM BORO MUNI AUTH · 27,500 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 17.355 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.835 µg/L — VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HEINZ · 3,112 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 23.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019 | 11/11 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.66 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.26 µg/L — PLUM BORO MUNI AUTH · 27,500 people · 2019 | 10/11 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.353 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.844 µg/L — FOX CHAPEL AUTH · 18,500 people · 2019 | 9/11 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: ASPINWALL BORO WATER DEPT · 3,151 people · 2019 | 2/11 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: WEST VIEW WATER AUTHORITY · 200,000 people · 2019 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 0.8000 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: WEST VIEW WATER AUTHORITY · 200,000 people · 2019 | 1/11 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0020 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH · 520,000 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0075 mg/L — ASPINWALL BORO WATER DEPT · 3,151 people · 1996 | 9/11 | LCR |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Pittsburgh
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTH | 520,000 |
| WEST VIEW WATER AUTHORITY | 200,000 |
| PLUM BORO MUNI AUTH | 27,500 |
| FOX CHAPEL AUTH | 18,500 |
| ROBINSON TWP MUNI AUTH | 16,354 |
| NEVILLE TWP WATER DEPT | 6,750 |
| RESERVE TWP WATER DEPT | 3,204 |
| ASPINWALL BORO WATER DEPT | 3,151 |
| VA HEALTHCARE SYSTEM HEINZ | 3,112 |
| BLAWNOX BORO WATER DEPT | 2,200 |
| CARSON TOWERS | 266 |
Frequently asked questions about Pittsburgh tap water
Is Pittsburgh tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 21 contaminants in the water serving Pittsburgh. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Pittsburgh?
11 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Pittsburgh's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Pittsburgh include Nitrate, Fluoride, Nitrite, Copper, TTHM. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.