Update: PWSA lifted the boil water advisory in the remaining neighborhoods on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Read WESA's latest coverage.
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority has lifted a days-long boil water advisory for four neighborhoods Tuesday. Much of the area impacted by a power outage Sunday remains under the advisory.
The agency said water quality testing did not indicate any evidence of microbial contamination in portions of the following neighborhoods:
- Morningside
- Stanton Heights
- Point Breeze
- Swisshelm Park
For customers in areas no longer under the advisory, the agency recommends running taps for one minute before using it to cook or drink.
"Customers using their water for the first time in two days run their taps for at least one minute before using it for cooking or drinking," PWSA said in a release. "This helps remove stagnant water from plumbing and brings in fresh water from water mains."
Customers in the following neighborhoods are still impacted by the boil water advisory as of Tuesday:
- Bloomfield
- East Liberty
- Friendship
- Garfield
- Highland Park
- Homewood North
- North Point Breeze
- Shadyside
- South Oakland
PWSA said water quality testing for the remaining neighborhoods has not yet been completed.
"PWSA began gathering samples on Sunday after the advisory was put into place. We were able to gather the first round of required samples from the four areas being lifted today," the agency explained. "In the remaining areas, we could not obtain all samples until Monday."
Water samples must be cleared in two rounds of testing over two consecutive days, which means the earliest the remaining neighborhoods could return to normal is Wednesday.
PWSA said the advisory area required 29 samples, which was logistically difficult. The agency urged residents and business owners to allow chemists to take samples at their property to ensure "the process can go more quickly."
More than 6,000 households in portions of Pittsburgh’s East End and South Oakland were first advised to boil their water Sunday. According to the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, water pressure was lowered after a power outage early Sunday. Lower pressure can allow contaminants to enter drinking water.
A pump station was impacted by a power outage around 2 a.m. Sunday, causing low and no water pressure in some neighborhoods. PWSA said power was restored about three hours later.
Water pressure loss can allow contaminants to enter the drinking water, making it unsafe to consume. Citing potential contamination during the outage, PWSA has issued a “precautionary boil-water advisory” to about 6,117 households.
Affected residents must bring tap water to a full rolling boil for one minute before allowing it to cool and use. Tap water filtered through a home water filter or pitcher filter must also be boiled before use. Residents should brush their teeth with boiled or bottled water.
The searchable map below indicates where households are impacted:
PWSA officials also announced locations where residents can collect water from a water buffalo during the advisory:
- Bloomfield: 477 S. Atlantic Avenue
- Highland Park: North Negley Avenue at Bryant Street
- Morningside: Morningside Avenue at Duffield Street
- North Point Breeze: North Lang Avenue at Park Lane Drive
- Shadyside: Howe Street at College Street
- South Oakland: Dawson Street at Holmes Place
- Swisshelm Park: Onondago Street, near Swisshelm Playground
The agency said it will continue taking samples of water to determine whether disinfectant levels are adequate. The boil-water advisory will be lifted after two rounds of tests during two consecutive days indicate there are no contaminants.
