The U.S. EPA recognized the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) ] for its use of federal infrastructure dollars to remove the risk of lead in drinking water.
Vice President Kamala Harris and EPA Administrator Michael Regan recognized PWSA’s efforts during their visit to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, Feb. 20.
The delegation visited a PWSA lead service line replacement site in Elliott for a look at how lead pipes are removed from the drinking water system. Vice President Harris also spoke at the Kingsley Association where, in nearby neighborhoods, PWSA has replaced hundreds of lead service lines.
"Access to clean water is an infrastructure and public health matter, which is why the Biden Administration has prioritized this issue to ensure people have access to what they need to be healthy regardless of how much money they have in their back pocket," said Vice President Kamala Harris during her remarks at the Kingsley Association.
Since PWSA began its effort to remove the risk of lead in drinking water in 2016, it has replaced more than 10,800 public and over 7,600 private lead service lines. PWSA has been recognized as an industry leader in lead pipe remediation, consulting with water utilities and governments across the country on best practices for their programs.
“We thank Vice President Harris and EPA Administrator Regan for their continued acknowledgement of the progress PWSA is making to improve public health in Pittsburgh,” said PWSA CEO Will Pickering. “Federal funding has allowed us to accelerate the pace of replacements and reduce the burden placed on our ratepayers for this costly construction endeavor,” he said.
To date, PWSA has received over $43 million in grants and over $23 million in low interest loans from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill for this work.
