Safe Water lead filter plan for city residents announced
Filters will be available to all city residents with priority to families with small children and those with lead service line replacements.
Filters will be available to all city residents with priority to families with small children and those with lead service line replacements.
Mayor William Peduto's administration and the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA) announced its plans for distributing lead filters to city residents interested in obtaining one.
According to a press release, priority will be given to residents with small children and those with homes affected by partial lead line replacements. All city residents are eligible to receive the filters, as well as residents of Millvale.
"Afterdecades of disinvestment, my administration and thePWSA are committed to solving lead issues once andfor all. Filters are only a first step of many to come, butbe sure we will solve this problem and give residentsthe safe and reliable water system they deserve,"Mayor Peduto said.
Those interested in getting a filter can visit pittsburghpa.gov/safepgh2o or call the city's 311 customer service line
The$1 million filter program was funded by $500,000 from Peoples Gas and $250,000from both the City and the PWSA.
The city outlined the following steps for residents to follow if they believe their home has lead:
- Run your water to flush out lead
- If you haven’t used your water for several hours, run your cold tap for one minute before using for cooking or drinking. Homes with longer lead water service lines may require flushing for a longer period of time. Using toilets, washing clothes, showering, or doing dishes before you drink from your tap are all ways that you can flush your service line without wasting water.
- Use cold water for cooking and preparing baby formula
- Lead dissolves more easily in hot water. Do not drink, cook with, or make baby formula using hot water.
- Do not boil water to remove lead; it will not reduce lead levels.