Pittsburgh Water Announces $33.5 Million in New PENNVEST Funding for Lead Service Line Replacements

Pittsburgh, PA - Pittsburgh Water announced today that it has been awarded $33,500,000 in new funding from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST) to support the continued removal of lead service lines across the city. The funding award includes a remarkable $23,214,235 grant that does not need to be repaid, and a $10,285,765 low-interest loan.

This latest investment will enable the replacement of an estimated 828 public and 884 private lead service lines in 13 Pittsburgh neighborhoods including Garfield, Shadyside, Point Breeze, Squirrel Hill North, Regent Square, Greenfield, Swisshelm Park, Brighton Heights, Manchester, Duquesne Heights, Allentown, Southside Flats, and Mt. Washington.

Pittsburgh Mayor Corey O'Connor thanked PENNVEST for its continued support, noting the impact the program has had on both public health and local economic activity. "Pittsburgh Water has already replaced over 27,000 total lead service lines across the city, including public-side and private-side service lines, and funding like this ensures families continue to receive safe drinking water while supporting local union jobs," O'Connor said. "These investments help strengthen our neighborhoods and deliver long-term water quality and service improvements for residents."

This funding adds to the more than $1 billion that Pittsburgh Water has previously secured through PENNVEST, including low-interest loans and grants that have significantly reduced costs for ratepayers while accelerating systemwide infrastructure upgrades. This latest award is projected to save Pittsburgh Water customers $67.8 million over 30 years when compared to traditional, more costly financing options like the issuance of municipal bonds.

"Removing lead service lines is one of the most important investments we can make to protect public health and improve drinking water quality," said Pittsburgh Water CEO Will Pickering. "This latest infusion of funding allows us to move forward in more neighborhoods, reduce lead exposure at the tap, and make meaningful progress toward our commitment to eliminate all lead service lines from our system, all while reducing the financial burden on our ratepayers."

Pittsburgh Water takes an equity-based approach to replacing lead service lines, prioritizing neighborhoods with high densities of young children, women of childbearing age, income-related considerations, and historical concentrations of lead lines. Crews will coordinate work with other infrastructure upgrades whenever possible to minimize disruption and improve efficiency.

Residents in affected neighborhoods will receive advance notifications regarding temporary water service interruptions during construction. Following replacement work, Pittsburgh Water will restore sidewalks, repave roadways, and return work areas to safe and usable conditions.

Since 2016, Pittsburgh Water has removed more than 15,700 public lead service lines and 12,000 private lines at no direct cost to customers. The utility remains on track to replace all known residential lead service lines by late 2027.

With continued PENNVEST support, Pittsburgh Water is advancing its comprehensive strategy to modernize aging infrastructure, improve reliability, and ensure every customer has access to clean, safe drinking water.

For more information on Pittsburgh Water's lead service line replacement program, visit pgh2o.com/lead.