Pittsburgh

===Climate===
{{climate chart
| Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| 21.1|35.7|2.60
| 23.0|39.3|2.39
| 30.0|49.2|2.95
| 40.2|61.7|3.11
| 49.3|70.8|3.95
| 58.4|79.1|4.30
| 62.8|82.5|3.83
| 61.5|81.4|3.48
| 54.0|74.3|3.11
| 42.9|62.6|2.29
| 34.7|51.2|3.23
| 25.3|39.4|2.85
| float=left
| clear=both
| units=imperial
}}
Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], Pittsburgh falls within either a [[hot-summer humid continental climate]] (''Dfa'') if the {{convert|0|°C}} isotherm is used or a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa'') if the {{convert|-3|°C}} isotherm is used. Summers are hot and winters are moderately cold with wide variations in temperature. Despite this, it has one of the most pleasant summer climates between medium and large cities in the U.S.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Peel |first1=M. C. |last2=Finlayson |first2=B. L. |last3=McMahon |first3=T. A. |name-list-style=amp |year=2007 |title=Updated world map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification |journal=Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. |volume=11 |issue=5 |pages=1633–1644 |url=http://www.hydrol-earth-syst-sci.net/11/1633/2007/hess-11-1633-2007.html |issn=1027-5606 |doi=10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 |bibcode=2007HESS...11.1633P | doi-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.westword.com/news/photos-ten-most-chill-major-cities-in-the-summertime-and-where-denver-places-5831262 |title=Photos: Ten most chill major cities in the summertime -- and where Denver places |last=Roberts |first=Michael |date=July 31, 2013 |website=Westword|access-date=March 24, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Roehr |first1=Daniel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kQvwBgAAQBAJ&q=Pittsburgh+HOT-SUMMER+KOPPEN+DFA&pg=PA78 |title=Living Roofs in Integrated Urban Water Systems |last2=Fassman-Beck |first2=Elizabeth |date=March 5, 2015 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-53703-8}}</ref> The city lies in the USDA plant hardiness zone 6b except along the rivers where the zone is 7a.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/|title=2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map|website=planthardiness.ars.usda.gov}}</ref> The area has four distinct seasons: winters are cold and snowy, springs and falls are mild with moderate levels of sunshine, and summers are warm. As measured by percent possible sunshine, summer is by far the sunniest season.<ref name = NOAAsun/>

The warmest month of the year in Pittsburgh is July, with a 24-hour average of {{convert|73.2|°F|1}}. Conditions are often humid, and combined with highs reaching {{convert|90|°F}} on an average 9.5 days a year,<ref name= NOAA /> a considerable [[heat index]] arises. The coolest month is January, when the 24-hour average is {{convert|28.8|°F|1}}, and lows of {{convert|0|°F|0}} or below can be expected on an average 2.6 nights per year.<ref name = NOAA /> Officially, record temperatures range from {{convert|-22|°F}}, on [[1994 North American cold wave|January 19, 1994]] to {{convert|103|°F}}, which occurred three times, most recently on July 16, 1988; the record cold daily maximum is {{convert|−3|°F|0}}, which occurred three times, most recently the day of the all-time record low, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is {{convert|82|°F|0}} on July 1, 1901.<ref name = NOAA/>{{efn|The warmest daily minimum at the current observation location, Pittsburgh Int'l, is only {{convert|77|°F|0}} on July 23, 2010, and July 16, 1980.<ref name = NOAA/>}} Due to elevation and location on the windward side of the Appalachian Mountains, {{convert|100|°F|0}}+ readings are very rare, and were last seen on July 15, 1995.<ref name = NOAA/>

Average annual precipitation is {{convert|39.61|in|mm}} and precipitation is greatest in May while least in October; annual precipitation has historically ranged from {{convert|22.65|in|mm|abbr=on}} in 1930 to {{convert|57.83|in|mm|abbr=on}} in 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pittsburgh Precipitation Records |url=https://www.weather.gov/media/pbz/records/prec.pdf|access-date=May 15, 2020}}</ref> On average, December and January have the greatest number of precipitation days. Snowfall averages {{convert|44.1|in|cm}} per season, but has historically ranged from {{convert|8.8|in|cm|abbr=on}} in 1918–19 to {{convert|80|in|cm|abbr=on}} in 1950–51.<ref>{{cite web |title=Pittsburgh Historical Snowfall Totals 1883 to Current |url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/pbz/thissnow.htm |publisher=NWS Pittsburgh, PA|access-date=June 20, 2014}}</ref> There is an average of 59 clear days and 103 partly cloudy days per year, while 203 days are cloudy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/cldy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030223015937/http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/online/ccd/cldy.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 23, 2003 |title=Cloudiness – Mean Number of Days |date=August 20, 2008 |publisher=[[National Climatic Data Center]] |access-date=May 15, 2011}}</ref> In terms of annual percent-average possible sunshine received, Pittsburgh (45%) is similar to [[Seattle]] (49%).
{{Clear}}

{{Pittsburgh weatherbox}}

====Air quality====
The [[American Lung Association|American Lung Association's]] (ALA) 2023 “State of the Air” report (which included data from 2019 to 2021) showed air quality in Pittsburgh improving. The city received a passing grade for ozone pollution, going from an F to a C grade, and improving from the 46th to 54th most polluted by ozone smog.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guay |first=Jessica |date=April 19, 2023 |title=American Lung Association report puts Pittsburgh area among worst for air quality - CBS Pittsburgh |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/dangerous-for-peoples-health-american-lung-association-report-puts-pittsburgh-among-worst-places-for-air-quality/ |access-date=February 7, 2024 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

A report by [https://pghworks.com/ Pittsburgh Works Together] published in November 2023 utilizing [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] (EPA) data showed continued air quality improvement as “the level of microscopic soot pollution (PM2.5) at the Liberty air monitor which is used by the EPA to measure Allegheny County’s compliance with the Clean Air Act standards declined 7% in 2022 compared to 2021 and has dropped 23.2% over the past decade."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Higgins |first=Tom |date=November 15, 2023 |title=Clearing The Air 4.0 Report Is Here |url=https://pghworks.com/pittsburgh-works-together-releases-clearing-the-air-version-4-0-report/ |access-date=February 7, 2024 |website=Pittsburgh Works Together |language=en-US}}</ref> The Pittsburgh Works report also disputes the ALA grade saying, “Data in the Lung Association’s own report shows that many of the counties in the region are among the best in the entire country for peak levels of tiny soot particles (PM2.5).”<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2023 |title=Clearing The Air 4.0 |url=https://pghworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/PGHWorks_AirQualityReport_4.0.pdf |website=Pittsburgh Works Together}}</ref>

According to daily ozone air quality data provided by the EPA, from 2021 to 2024, Pittsburgh had good or moderate air quality most of the time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=US EPA |first=OAR |date=September 23, 2016 |title=Air Data - Multiyear Tile Plot |url=https://www.epa.gov/outdoor-air-quality-data/air-data-multiyear-tile-plot |access-date=February 7, 2024 |website=www.epa.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=EPA: Air Quality Trends By City 2000-2022 |url=https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2023-05/airqualitytrendsbycity2000-2022.xlsx |website=EPA}}</ref> Then-Allegheny County executive Rich Fitzgerald said in December 2023 that they’d seen an “80 % drop in hazardous air pollutants” and that they made EPA attainment at all eight county air monitors for the first time in 2020, and then also achieved that goal in 2021, 2022, and were on track for better results in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=Rich |date=December 27, 2023 |title=Rich Fitzgerald: Reflecting on 12 years of service |url=https://triblive.com/opinion/rich-fitzgerald-reflecting-on-12-years-of-service/ |access-date=February 7, 2024 |website=TribLIVE.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

A past 2019 "State of the Air" report from the [[American Lung Association]] (ALA) found that air quality in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-OH-WV metro area worsened compared to previous reports, not only for ozone (smog), but also for the second year in a row for both the daily and long-term measures of fine particle pollution. In 2019, outside of California, Allegheny County was the only county in the United States that recorded failing grades for all three.<ref>{{cite press release |url=https://www.lung.org/local-content/_content-items/about-us/media/press-releases/air-quality-in-pittsburgh.html |title=Air Quality in Pittsburgh Metro Area Worsened for both Ozone and Particle Pollution, Finds 2019 'State of the Air' Report |date=April 24, 2019 |work=American Lung Association}}</ref>

In a 2013 ranking of 277 metropolitan areas in the United States, the [[American Lung Association]] ranked only six U.S. metro areas as having higher amounts of short-term particle pollution, and only seven U.S. metro areas having higher amounts of year-round particle pollution than Pittsburgh. For ozone (smog) pollution, Pittsburgh was ranked 24th among U.S. metro areas.<ref>[http://www.stateoftheair.org/2013/city-rankings/most-polluted-cities.html American Lung Association State of the Air 2013 – Most Polluted Cities] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150107185644/http://www.stateoftheair.org/2013/city-rankings/most-polluted-cities.html |date=January 7, 2015 }}. Stateoftheair.org. Retrieved on July 17, 2013.</ref><ref>[http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/report-pittsburghs-air-quality-improving-but-still-among-most-polluted-684783/ "Report: Pittsburgh's air quality improving, but still among most polluted"], [[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]]. Post-gazette.com (April 24, 2013). Retrieved on July 17, 2013.</ref> The area has improved its air quality with every annual survey. The ALA's rankings have been disputed by the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD), since data from only the worst of the region's 20 air quality monitors is considered by the ALA, without any context or averaging. The lone monitor used is immediately downwind and adjacent to U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works, the nation's largest [[Coke (fuel)|coke]] mill, and several municipalities outside the city's jurisdiction of pollution controls, leading to possible confusion that Pittsburgh is the source or center of the emissions cited in the survey.<ref>{{cite news |work=[[Pittsburgh Tribune-Review]] |title=Region passes L.A. on pollution list|access-date=August 10, 2008 |last=Heinrichs |first=Allison |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_565183.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501192453/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_565183.html|archive-date=May 1, 2008 }}</ref> The region's readings also reflect pollution swept in from Ohio and West Virginia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/news/nation/2013/12/10/8-Northeast-states-sue-over-pollution/stories/201312100110 |title=8 Northeast states sue over pollution |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=June 11, 2015}}</ref>

Although the county was still below the "pass" threshold, the report showed substantial improvement over previous decades on every air quality measure. Fewer than 15 high ozone days were reported between 2007 and 2009, and just 10 between 2008 and 2010, compared to more than 40 between 1997 and 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stateoftheair.org/2012/msas/Pittsburgh-New-Castle-PA.html |title=Allegheny County and Pittsburgh-New Castle, PA |year=2012 |work=State of the Air 2011 |publisher=American Lung Association|access-date=May 28, 2012|archive-date=August 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825005342/http://www.stateoftheair.org/2012/msas/Pittsburgh-New-Castle-PA.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> ACHD spokesman Guillermo Cole stated "It's the best it's been in the lifetime for virtually every resident in this county ... We've seen a steady decrease in pollution levels over the past decade and certainly over the past 20, 30, 40, 50 years, or more."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wpxi.com/news/23287732/detail.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918013148/http://www.wpxi.com/news/23287732/detail.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 18, 2012 |title=Pittsburgh Air Quality No Longer Worst in U.S. |date=April 28, 2010 |publisher=[[WPXI]] |access-date=May 7, 2011}}</ref>

As of 2005, the city includes 31,000 trees on 900 miles of streets. A 2011 analysis of Pittsburgh's tree cover, which involved sampling more than 200 small plots throughout the city, showed a value of between $10 and $13 million in annual benefits based on the [[urban forest]] contributions to aesthetics, energy use and air quality. Energy savings from shade, impact on city air and water quality, and the boost in property values were taken into account in the analysis. The city spends $850,000 annually on street tree planting and maintenance.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/that-tree-on-the-corner-may-be-worth-more-than-your-house |title=Tree on the Corner May Be Worth More Than Your House |last=Seltenrich |first=Nate |date=February 18, 2013 |website=[[Next City]] |access-date=May 18, 2019}}</ref>

Despite improvements, some studies still suggest that poor air quality in Pittsburgh is causing negative health effects. In a past study conducted between 2014 and 2016 researchers determined that children who lived in areas close to sources of pollution, such as industrial sites, experienced rates of asthma at almost 3 times the national average.<ref name="Frazier-2020">{{Cite web |last=Frazier |first=Reid |date=November 11, 2020 |title=Study: Pittsburgh kids near polluting sites have higher asthma rates |url=https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylvania/2020/11/11/study-pittsburgh-kids-near-polluting-sites-have-higher-asthma-rates/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=StateImpact Pennsylvania |language=en}}</ref> The study also found that 38% of students live in areas over USEPA's 12 micrograms per cubic meter standards, while 70% live in areas over the WHO's standard of 10 micrograms per cubic meter.<ref name="Frazier-2020" /> Several of the plants were located in or very near Pittsburgh.<ref name="Frazier-2020" /> The study also noted that most of the effected communities were minority communities.<ref name="Frazier-2020" /> This had led some residents in Pittsburgh to believe that the continuing effects of air pollution are a case of environmental racism.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hurdle |first=Jon |title=For Low-Income Pittsburgh, Clean Air Remains an Elusive Goal |url=https://e360.yale.edu/features/for-low-income-pittsburgh-clean-air-remains-an-elusive-goal |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=Yale E360 |language=en-US}}</ref>

Groups such as Women for a Healthy Environment are working to address ongoing concerns surrounding air pollution in Pittsburgh.<ref name="Women For a Healthy Environment">{{Cite web |title=Women For a Healthy Environment |url=https://womenforahealthyenvironment.org/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=Women For a Healthy Environment |language=en-US}}</ref> WHE does work such as policy analysis, publishing reports, and community education.<ref name="Women For a Healthy Environment" /> In the summer of 2017, a crowd sourced air quality monitoring application, Smell PGH, was launched. As air quality is still a concern of many in the area, the app allows for users to report odd smells and informs local authorities.<ref>{{cite web |last=Biggs |first=John |date=June 22, 2016 |title=Smell PGH lets you report weird smells in Pittsburgh |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/22/smellpgh-lets-you-report-weird-smells-in-pittsburgh/ |access-date=May 18, 2019 |website=[[Tech Crunch]]}}</ref>

====Water quality====
The local rivers continue to have pollution levels exceeding EPA limits.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.alleghenyfront.org/new-report-finds-industrial-pollution-flowing-illegally-into-pa-rivers/ |title=New Report Finds Industrial Pollution Flowing Illegally into PA Rivers |last=Lancianese |first=Adelina |date=March 28, 2018 |website=[[WESA (FM)]] |access-date=May 19, 2019}}</ref> This is caused by [[Allegheny County Sanitary Authority#Pittsburgh's sewer overflow problem|frequently overflowing untreated sewage]] into local waterways, due to flood conditions and antiquated infrastructure. Pittsburgh has a [[combined sewer]] system, where its sewage pipes contain both stormwater and wastewater. The pipes were constructed in the early 1900s, and the sewage treatment plant was built in 1959.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.3riverswetweather.org/about-wet-weather-issue/understanding-sewer-collection-system/history |title=Understanding Sewer Collection System |website=3 Rivers Wet Weather |access-date=May 19, 2019}}</ref> Due to insufficient improvements over time, the city is faced with public health concerns regarding its water.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smeltz |first=Adam |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/01/22/Pittsburgh-Mayor-Bill-Peduto-executive-order-pushes-forward-PWSA-restructuring-water-board/stories/201801220112 |title=Peduto forges ahead to restructure PWSA leadership |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |date=January 22, 2017 |access-date=April 24, 2018}}</ref> As little as a tenth of an inch of rain causes runoffs from the sewage system to drain into local rivers.<ref>{{cite web |title=About the Wet Weather Issue |access-date=April 16, 2018 |url=http://www.3riverswetweather.org/about-wet-weather-issue |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190202212622/http://www.3riverswetweather.org/about-wet-weather-issue |archive-date=February 2, 2019 |website=3riverswetweather.org}}</ref> Nine billion gallons of untreated waste and stormwater flow into rivers, leading to health hazards and Clean Water Act violations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.publicsource.org/will-green-or-gray-infrastructure-solve-the-problem-of-raw-sewage-running-into-the-pittsburgh-regions-rivers/ |title=Raw sewage flows into Pittsburgh's rivers. Is there an environmentally friendly fix that won't break the bank? |date=December 6, 2017 |website=PublicSource |access-date=April 24, 2018}}</ref> The local sewage authority, [[Allegheny County Sanitary Authority]], or ALCOSAN, is operating under Consent Decree from the [[Environmental Protection Agency|EPA]] to come up with solutions.<ref>{{cite web |last=Krauss |first=M. J. |date=January 30, 2018 |url=http://wesa.fm/post/alcosan-more-doubling-wastewater-treatment-plant-diminish-sewage-overlows#stream/0 |title=ALCOSAN More Than Doubling Wastewater Treatment Plant To Diminish Sewage Overflows |access-date=April 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926131554/http://www.wesa.fm/post/alcosan-more-doubling-wastewater-treatment-plant-diminish-sewage-overlows#stream/0 |archive-date=September 26, 2018}}</ref> In 2017, ALCOSAN proposed a $2&nbsp;billion upgrade to the system which is moving closer to EPA approval.<ref>{{cite web |last=Hopey |first=Don |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/06/07/alcosan-pittsburgh-epa-sewage-control-plan-stormwater-pa/stories/201706060181 |title=EPA, Alcosan near agreement on sewage-control plan |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |date=June 7, 2017 |access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref>

[[Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority]] (PWSA) is the city's agency required to replace pipes and charge water rates. They have come under fire from both city and state authorities due to alleged mismanagement.<ref name=puc>{{cite web |last=Lindstrom |first=Natasha |date=January 18, 2018 |title=Gov. Wolf to sign bill placing Pittsburgh's water system under PUC oversight |access-date=April 16, 2018 |url=http://triblive.com/local/allegheny/12976229-74/gov-wolf-to-ok-bill-placing-pittsburghs-water-system-under-puc-oversight |work=triblive.com}}</ref> In 2017, [[Bill Peduto|Mayor William Peduto]] advocated for a restructuring of the PWSA and a partially privatized water authority.<ref>{{cite web |last=Smeltz |first=Adam |url=http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2017/02/03/Peduto-administration-plans-advisory-team-to-assess-PWSA-Pittsburgh/stories/201702030228 |title=City to turn to advisory panel to study water, sewer issues |work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |date=February 3, 2017 |access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref> Governor Wolf subsequently assigned the PWSA to be under the oversight of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).<ref name=puc/>

PWSA has also been subject to criticism due to findings released in 2016 showing high levels of lead in Pittsburgh's drinking water.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morrison |first=Oliver |date=October 18, 2021 |title=The untold story of Pittsburgh's water crisis and a future of $300 water bills |url=http://www.publicsource.org/pwsa-pittsburgh-crisis-turnaround-infrastructure-spending-rates-water-bills/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=PublicSource |language=en-US}}</ref> Although Pittsburgh's drinking water had been high in lead levels, and steadily rising, for many years, many residents blame PWSA administrative changes for the spike in lead levels.<ref name="Morrison-2021">{{Cite web |last=Morrison |first=Oliver |date=October 19, 2021 |title=The main cause of Pittsburgh's lead crisis wasn't corporate management |url=http://www.publicsource.org/pwsa-pittsburgh-lead-water-corrosion-soda-ash-caustic-soda-orthophosphate/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=PublicSource |language=en-US}}</ref> In the years prior, PWSA had hired Veolia, a Paris-based company, for consultation to help with mounting administrative difficulties.<ref name="Lurie">{{Cite magazine |last=Lurie |first=Julia |title=Pittsburgh's Drinking Water Was Clean Until This Company Came Along |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2016/10/pittsburghs-drinking-water-got-contaminated-lead/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |issn=1059-1028}}</ref> By 2015, PWSA in consultation with Veolia had laid off 23 people, including halving the laboratory staff that was responsible for testing water safety and quality.<ref name="Lurie" /> Simultaneously, PWSA in consultation with Veolia had changed what chemicals they were using to prevent metal corrosion in 2014,<ref name="Morrison-2021" /> from soda ash to caustic soda, without consulting with Department of Environmental Protection.<ref name="Glenza-2017">{{Cite news |last=Glenza |first=Jessica |date=July 25, 2017 |title=Pittsburgh officials may have 'deflected' attention from lead-contaminated water |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/jul/25/pittsburgh-lead-drinking-water-flint-epa |access-date=December 16, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Anti-corrosive chemicals were being used because many of Pittsburgh's water pipes were made of lead, and adding anti-corrosive chemicals helped prevent lead from seeping into drinking water.<ref name="Glenza-2017" />

In 2016 lead levels were as high as 27 ppb in some cases. The legal limit is 15 ppb, although there is not safe amount of lead in drinking water.<ref name="Glenza-2017" /> Though lead levels had been rising in previous years, they had not exceeded the legal limit.<ref name="Morrison-2021" /> In late 2015 PWSA terminated its contracted with Veolia.<ref name="Lurie" /> In response to the high lead levels PWSA began adding orthophosphate to the water.<ref name="www.pgh2o.com-2023">{{Cite web |date=January 24, 2023 |title=PWSA Continues to Provide Protection for Those with Lead Service Lines |url=https://www.pgh2o.com/news-events/news/press-release/2023-01-24-pwsa-continues-provide-protection-those-lead-service |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=www.pgh2o.com |language=en}}</ref> Orthophosphate is meant to create a coating on the inside of pipes, creating a barrier to prevent lead from leaching into drinking water.<ref name="www.pgh2o.com-2023" /> PWSA has also been working to replace lead pipes, and continuing to test water for lead.<ref name="www.pgh2o.com-2023" />

There remains concern among residents over the long-term effects of this lead, particularly for children, in whom lead causes permanent damage to the brain and nervous system.<ref name="Marusic">{{Cite web |last=Marusic |first=Kristina |title=Lead detected in 80% of Allegheny County, Pa., water systems: Report - EHN |url=https://www.ehn.org/pennsylvania-lead-in-water-2652678227.html |access-date=December 16, 2023 |website=www.ehn.org |language=en}}</ref> Some people also believe that the high levels of lead reflect environmental racism, as black and Hispanic children in Pittsburgh experience elevated blood-lead levels at 4 times the rate of white children.<ref name="Marusic" /> Water fountains in Langley k-8 school in Sheraden were found to have the highest levels of lead of any schools in the Pittsburgh area. These levels were about 11 times the legal limit. Some residents believe this is due to Langely being a predominantly black school, with 89% of the student body being eligible for the free lunch program.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Center |first=Thomas Merton |date=February 9, 2017 |title=The Racist, Classist Origins of Pittsburgh's Water Crisis |url=https://newpeoplenewspaper.com/2017/02/09/the-racist-classist-origins-of-pittsburghs-water-crisis/ |access-date=December 16, 2023 |language=en}}</ref>