PWSA Lifts Boil Water Advisory In Pittsburgh
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) – After two days of using bottled water and visits to water buffaloes, more than 100,000 people in the City of Pittsburgh are allowed to drink their water again.
Officials with the city, Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority and the Department of Environmental Protection lifted the Boil Water Advisory at noon on Thursday.
According to a press release, officials from the PWSA and the City of Pittsburgh met with the DEP Thursday morning. During that meeting, the DEP confirmed that all drinking water requirements had been met and there was no longer a risk to the public.
"PWSA sincerely appreciates the public's patience and apologizes for the massive inconvenience that resulted from the precautionary flush and boil water advisory," said PWSA Interim Executive Director Bernard R. Lindstrom. "We realize this incident created hardships for residents of the city, but know that our main goal at PWSA is, and will continue to be, providing safe drinking water to our customers."
WATCH: PWSA Press Conference --
The PWSA submitted documentation to the DEP Wednesday night to prove the water was safe for consumption. That data showed that the potential risk had been eliminated and that water exceeded all DEP quality standards.
The Boil Water Advisory was issued Tuesday night after some water samples didn't meet the state standards. There were chlorine irregularities in readings coming out of the Highland Park Reservoir #1, as well as low chlorine readings further downstream in the water system.
However, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, while announcing the lifting of the advisory, made it clear, "At no time was the public in danger, but as a regulator, the Department of Environmental Protection must take actions if something within a system does not work properly."
PWSA has spent the last two days attacking the issue on a couple fronts. Working to isolate the reservoir from the city's water grid, while pumping in more chlorine to eliminate any possibility of a bacterial issue.
The Mayor's Chief-of-Staff Kevin Acklin says this has all been precautionary.
"There never was any indication of any contamination in any city water," he said.
The city's efforts and lots of tests results convinced the DEP to lift the advisory just before noon on Thursday. With the all clear for the 100,000 water customers to return to normal use, the focus now becomes the investigation.
Lindstrom says they are focusing on the reservoir and microfiltration plant. But as for the cause of the chlorine issues, he says, "At this point, we don't truly know."
The reservoir and plant will remain off the city's water system until the problem is identified, adjustments made, and the state convinced it's operating properly.
Initially, it was feared that the advisory could be in effect for at least three days. In all, it was in effect for 42 hours. Last night, the city opened fire hydrants in the hopes of flushing any water below the state standards from its water system.
Meanwhile, workers are still pumping in extra chlorine, so citywide, you may notice an increased taste and smell of the chemical.
"So, we're looking at probably early next week to see that being brought back to the original condition," Gina Cyprych, the PWSA's director of water quality.
Lindstrom talked to "KDKA Morning News" on Thursday about submitted everything the state has required of the PWSA. He also took time to apologize to their customers affected.
"Let me first apologize for this massive inconvenience. I know it has created many hardships and uncertainties and I know our main goal as your water authority is and will continue to be, to provide safe drinking water to everyone," he said.
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