Agreement ends city boil-water advisory

Public was never in danger, Peduto says

The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority lifted the precautionary boil-water advisory for 100,000 city residents Thursday morning, ending two days of inconvenience, and it began an in-depth review of Highland Park Reservoir water-treatment procedures.

Mayor Bill Peduto, speaking at a noon news conference, praised PWSA officials who worked late into the night Wednesday to provide the state Department of Environmental Protection with the information it needed to end the boil order.

The state agency directed the water authority to issue the order Tuesday afternoon after low chlorine levels in several tests raised fears that conditions in the water that goes to central and eastern city neighborhoods were favorable for giardia, a parasite that can sicken people and pets.

Subsequent tests found no elevated levels of giardia, and no hospitals reported treating anyone with giardiasis.

“At no time was the public in danger. There was never giardia or bacteria in the water system, and our chlorine exceeded federal and most state requirements,” Mr. Peduto said. “The precautionary [boil-water] measure could have lasted three or even seven days, but we were able to resolve it in 42 hours.”

The order was lifted after DEP and PWSA officials, plus Kevin Acklin, Mr. Peduto’s chief of staff, met early Thursday to review data on chlorine levels and water line flushing and received certification that the Highland Park membrane filtration facility was operating properly. The DEP then said the problems had been corrected and state water quality standards had been met.