Tap water quality in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania? Is it safe to drink?

The water quality in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has been a topic of discussion due to its importance to public health. The city's water utility is Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA), which is responsible for supplying clean and safe water to all residents.

Key Points about Pittsburgh's Water Quality:

Source: Pittsburgh's water is sourced primarily from the Allegheny River. Additional sources include the Monongahela and Ohio rivers. These sources provide abundant water but face challenges from industrial pollution and agricultural runoff.
Testing and Standards: PWSA conducts regular testing of the water supply to ensure compliance with the standards set forth by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). The testing is aimed at detecting contaminants, such as lead, bacteria, and volatile organic compounds.
Water Hardness: The water in Pittsburgh is considered moderately hard. This is due to the presence of minerals like calcium and magnesium that dissolve into the water from natural sources as well as city infrastructure.
Common Concerns: Among the most prevalent concerns are lead contamination from aging pipes, sediment, and the presence of certain chemicals. While the lead levels are usually controlled, older homes with outdated plumbing might still face issues. Additionally, the presence of sediment can cause discoloration and affect the taste of the water.

Overall, while Pittsburgh's tap water generally meets regulatory standards, there are still some issues that residents should be aware of. To ensure the best possible water quality, it is advisable to use water purifiers and water softeners. These devices can help in removing contaminants and reducing water hardness, offering an additional layer of protection for both health and plumbing systems.

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Get Involved. Take Action

Contact Your Local Elected Official & Water Supply Company

One of the best ways for cleaner water is to talk to elected officials who have a say in water quality. Ask questions and demand actionable plans for healthier water.

Filter Out Contaminants

Check out different water filters to protect your water against the detected contaminants.

Which water purifier to get for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?


Types of filters	GAC & Carbon	Micro filter	Ultra filter	Nano filter	Reverse Osmosis filter
Particle size filtered	> 10 Microns	10 to 0.1 Microns	0.1 to 0.01 Microns	0.01 to 0.001 Microns	< 0.0001 Microns

Common Suspended Compounds
Sediments
Pollen
Giardia Cysts
Bacteria, Algae
Yeast Cells
Asbestos fibers
Blue Indigo Dye
Cryptosporidium
MicroPlastics	Some
PFAs -polyfluoroalkyl substances	Some
Arsenic, Lead, Cadmium, Mercury
Haloacetic acids (HAA5/HAA9)
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs)
Viruses			Some
Colloidal Silica			Some

Common Dissolved solids
1,1-Dichloroethane
Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene)
Trichloroethylene
Pesticides and Herbicides	Some	Some
Synthetic Dyes
Bromide	Some	Some	Some	Some
Bromochloromethane	Some	Some	Some	Some
Hardness				Some
Aqueous Salts				Some
Endocrine disruptors				Some
Nitrate & nitrite				Some
1,4-Dioxane				Some
Aluminum				Some
Barium				Some
Chromium (total)				Some
Fluoride				Some
Manganese				Some
Molybdenum				Some
Selenium				Some
Strontium				Some
Trichlorofluoromethane				Some
Uranium, combined (pCi/L)				Some

What do we do? How do we help?

We have developed the TDSBot, an inexpensive IOT device that monitors, in real time, the Incoming and Outgoing TDS levels, temperature, flow rate and cumulative volume of water filtered. Easy to install, it works with all water purifiers including, sediment, GAC, Carbon, Micro, Ultra, Nano and Reverse Osmosis water filters. Key benefits:

Know the incoming and filtered water quality in real time.
Know the volume of water filtered by day, week, month and total.
Know in advance when to change filter cartridges. Too often we tend to realize that they need changing after the water purifier has stopped working or worse, when the water smells bad.
Change filters only when needed. Sometimes filters perform longer than their standard life due to better incoming water or lower usage. Reduce waste and save money.
Quality data collected is aggregated to show real time water quality data to all the community.

TDSBot can be installed on water purifiers from Pentair, Culligan, 3M, Brita, BWT, iSpring, and most other brands. Supports sediment, GAC, Micro, Ultra, Nano and Reverse osmosis filters. It can remotely monitor filters attached to Coffee machines, Ice makers, soda fountains, water dispensers, ovens, laundry & dish washing, car wash found at Cafes, convenient stores, healthcare facilities, hotels, offices, restaurants, colleges, schools, hydroponic systems, and many more.

There are no TDSBots in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that are sharing tap water quality. Be the first one to install one on your water purifier. We are giving $10 off. Apply coupon code - Pittsburgh while checking out.

Ensure safe and healthy drinking water. Start sharing tape water quality in Pittsburgh for the benefit of the community

Sustainability Impact Insights

TDSBot can generate a variety of sustainability data, including water usage metrics, identify areas of reducing water waste, leak detection and prevention, extend filter and equipment lifespan, predictive maintenance alerts to extend equipment life and reduce environmental impact.

Sustainability data can be easily showcased on your corporate website or publicly shared on your social media

Learn About Water Quality

* A definition specific to a few codes is that “Safe drinking water” means water that meets all primary and secondary drinking water standards. Drinking water standards are set based on potential health impacts and also take into account the cost to meet the drinking water standard. Also, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines drinking water as safe when humans can drink it with low risk of immediate or long-term harm to your health. Although there may be health risks associated with certain contaminants found in drinking water not all contaminants are necessarily harmful.

** Based on the data collected from the TDSBots installed in Los Angeles, California

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