Pittsburgh Water says its residential lead service line replacement effort is 88% complete, with a goal of finishing the remaining work by the end of 2027. In an October 7 progress update, the utility reported replacing 16,264 public-side lines and 12,533 private-side lines as of October 1. The milestone gives households a clearer view of the scale of the work and the next steps still ahead.
What the 88% milestone means
The utility serves about 71,000 residential service connections. It says roughly 8,300 properties still need to be checked for lead; that figure includes inspections already underway as well as properties scheduled for future phases. It should not be read as 8,300 confirmed lead lines. Inspections determine what material is present, and the citywide percentage reflects the utility’s program progress rather than the status of any one block or home.
Based on current findings, Pittsburgh Water expects to replace about 2,500 to 4,000 additional public lines in 2027, along with a similar number of privately owned lines. Those are estimates that depend on what inspections find. The utility says it expects its total investment in the removal effort to approach $400 million by completion.
Funding is still moving through the process
For the final phase, Pittsburgh Water’s board authorized an application for up to $19 million in PENNVEST financing for the 2027 Neighborhood Lead Service Line Replacement Project. That authorization is permission to apply; it is not a statement that the financing has already been awarded. The October update says work will continue in several construction phases through 2027.
The distinction matters because the program combines inspection, public-side replacement and coordination with property owners where a private line is involved. The utility’s replacement program overview explains that crews inspect service-line material and that owners are contacted to coordinate when both public and private lead lines are found.
How residents can check their address
Residents can use Pittsburgh Water’s service-line map to review available material information and its daily construction schedule to see where crews are working. A map entry or nearby project listing is a starting point, not a substitute for utility confirmation about a specific property.
For eligible properties whose owners choose to hire a plumber for private-side work, Pittsburgh Water describes a reimbursement process that requires an estimate to be reviewed before construction. The utility says reimbursement may cover up to 100% of eligible costs depending on household income, and it lists a $1,000 stipend option. Eligibility rules apply, and residents should confirm current requirements directly with the official reimbursement program before hiring a contractor. The utility lists its Lead Help Desk at 412-255-8987.
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood finish
Pittsburgh Water says it has worked neighborhood by neighborhood since launching its effort in 2016. Finishing the final phase will require continued inspections, coordination with residents and street restoration after replacement work. For Pittsburgh households, the useful near-term question is whether a property has been checked and what the utility’s record shows—not whether a citywide milestone automatically applies to every address.
The October update points to a substantial remaining construction program, but it also sets a defined end-of-2027 goal for a long-running infrastructure project. Residents can follow address-specific information through the utility’s map and project updates as the final phases advance.