Pittsburgh Drinking Water
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Pittsburgh Drinking Water
Access to clean water is a human right that most governments try to protect and guarantee. Community leaders need to seek reliable sources for this vital resource. Water is crucial for the health of a community and its people. In my city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, there is a population of approximately 300,000 people who need this resource. In my city, drinking water is provided by the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA).
Sources of drinking water
There are two primary sources of drinking water in Pittsburgh, stormwater and the Allegheny River. In 2004, the city was issued a consent order to observe the Federal Clean Water Act and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law of 1937. This order was issued because of heavy rains overwhelming the city’s infrastructure and causing sewage overflows. PWSA has introduced stormwater projects which will collect and treat rainwater on site.
The Allegheny River is the second and the primary source of water for the city. Once water is drawn from the river, it is passed through the Water Treatment Plant for purification. After treatment, it enters the distribution network where it is pumped into storage tanks for use. PWSA distributes up to 70 million gallons of water daily through this process (Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 2020).
Water treatment
In the city, the Water Treatment Plant is in Aspinwall. The main steps of the water treatment process are:
- Coagulation: Chemicals are added to the river water to allow the particles to stick together.
- Sedimentation: This step is about waiting for the particles to settle out of the water.
- Filtration: The plant uses sand and anthracite coal as a filter. The water passes through the filter slowly, removing all remaining particles.
- Disinfection: Sodium Hypochlorite is added to the filtered water in a storage tank. This chemical is a disinfectant that removes microbial particles.
- Corrosion control: In this step, orthophosphate is used to reduce lead levels in the water.
- Fluoride: This is the final step. Here, the recommended level of fluoride is added to the water. (Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, 2020).
Non-point source pollution
Point source pollution is a specific and easily identifiable place where pollutants enter the water system. Non-point source pollution is the opposite. A non-point source of water pollution is contamination covering a wide area or multiple areas of contamination of a water system.
The coal mining activities of Pennsylvania contribute to the pollution of the Allegheny River. About 2,537 active and 910 abandoned coal mines in the Allegheny River basin (Sams and Beer, 2000). Rainwater enters coal mines and carries the impurities into the river as runoffs. These contaminated runoffs may enter storage tanks used for drinking water.
The state uses road salts to deice roads during winter. When it rains, the salts dissolve into the rainwater, flowing into the Allegheny River or storage tanks. This is another example of non-point source pollution.
Microbial contaminants
Giardia is an intestinal parasite that can be found in water. This microscopic parasite enters water systems from human or animal feces. It causes a diarrheal illness known as Giardiasis, and the symptoms include diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal cramps, greasy stool, and nausea. Giardiasis is easily treated using an antibiotic known as Metronidazole (CDC, 2020). In the water, Giardia can be controlled by increasing the level of chlorine.
Chemical contaminants
Lead is the most common chemical contaminant. The city of Pittsburgh has also dealt with lead in the water. Lead dissolves into the drinking water from corroded pipes and other plumbing materials. When a lead enters the body, it causes lead poisoning. Lead poisoning symptoms are abdominal pain, constipation, irritability, loss of appetite, high blood pressure, and nausea. Lead poisoning is treated through chelation therapy. In this treatment, the patient is given calcium disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), which binds with the body’s lead. The lead will then be excreted through the urine. (Mayo Clinic, 2020)
PWSA has been implementing an aggressive program to replace lead pipes. This replacement program began in 2016, and the aim is to replace all lead service lines by 2026.
References
CDC. (, 2020). Illness & Symptoms | Giardia | Parasites | CDC. Cdc.gov. Retrieved 16 October 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/giardia/illness.html.
Mayo Clinic. (, 2020). Lead poisoning – symptoms, and causes. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved 16 October 2020, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lead-poisoning/symptoms-causes/syc-20354717.
Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority. (, 2020). Stormwater | Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority. Pgh2o.com. Retrieved 16 October 2020, from https://www.pgh2o.com/your-water/stormwater.
Sams, J. I., and Beer, K.M. (2000). Effects of coal-mine drainage on stream water quality in the Allegheny and Monongahela River basins- Sulfate transport and trends (Water-Resource Investigation Report 99-4208). Lemoyne, PA: National Water-Quality Assessment Program