If someone in a high-visibility vest comes knocking in parts of Pittsburgh’s South Hills, they are probably not selling anything. Pennsylvania American Water has launched door-to-door visits in select neighborhoods to check the material of residents’ water service lines. These pipes run from the street main into homes and businesses. The canvass, which started in mid-July, is aimed at finding any lead or galvanized steel piping so the utility can arrange replacements at no direct cost to customers. The focus is on several South Hills communities, and the outreach is expected to run into the fall.
The company began canvassing on July 15 and says the effort is designed to help roughly 5,700 customers in Beechview, Beltzhoover, Bon Air, Brookline, Knoxville and Overbrook, according to WPXI. The door-to-door push advances Pennsylvania American Water’s lead service line replacement program and, the company says, gives participating homeowners a chance to have lines swapped out at no direct cost. “Customer involvement makes this work possible,” Pennsylvania American Water Vice President Jim Runzer told WPXI.
Pennsylvania American Water also reports that a broader statewide identification effort has already cataloged more than 50,000 service lines and that crews have replaced over 3,400 customer-owned lead lines, according to a company press release. The utility says it serves roughly 2.5 million people in Pennsylvania and that mapping where different service line materials are located helps it decide which areas should see replacement work first. Local projects and timelines, the company notes, will depend on how many customers request inspections and how much funding is available.
Why this is happening
Federal rules under the EPA’s Lead and Copper framework require water systems to build detailed inventories of service line materials and make those lists public, which has pushed utilities to track down unknown lines and plan for replacements, according to the EPA. That regulatory backdrop is driving Pennsylvania American Water to canvass neighborhoods where customer-side pipe materials are not clear in the company's records. Officials say having accurate maps lets them group replacement jobs more efficiently and seek funding or other cost savings when possible.
What inspectors will do
Pennsylvania American Water is using contractor CDM Smith to handle the door-to-door inspections. According to the utility’s program materials, canvassers will carry official company photo identification and wear logoed, high-visibility vests so residents can verify who they are. Inspections can include a quick visual check where the service line enters the building, a look around the interior meter area and, when needed, small test pits to confirm what the pipe is made of before any replacement work begins. If lead or galvanized piping turns up, the company will work with customers to schedule a replacement under the program’s terms.
How residents can check their line
Customers can use an interactive service line map, self-report what material their line is made from, or request help by phone, email, or an online scheduler, according to WPXI. The company urges residents to confirm identification before letting anyone inside and to sign an agreement before replacement crews start work on their property.
