Pittsburgh's water technically meets federal minimums — but "legal" is not the same as safe. Your tap water contains chromium-6 at 27 times health guidelines, cancer-linked disinfection byproducts, and PFAS "forever chemicals" that accumulate in your body for life. A reverse osmosis system removes 99% of it. We'll have one installed under your sink this week.
Book a free consultationWhat's in your water
Pittsburgh's water passes federal tests. But "compliant" means within the legal limit — not harmless. Here's what's flowing through your pipes that your Brita can't touch.
Pittsburgh had roughly 25,000 lead service lines at the start of its replacement program — thousands remain active. Lead leaches into water at pipe joints and old home fixtures, especially in homes built before 1986, regardless of how clean the water was when it left the treatment plant.
Pittsburgh tap water tests at 27 times the EWG health guideline for chromium-6 — the same chemical at the center of the Erin Brockovich case. The chlorine used to treat the water also reacts with organic material to create byproducts like chloroform and trihalomethanes. No federal limit on chromium-6 currently exists.
Three Rivers Waterkeeper found PFAS in nearly 75% of Pittsburgh-area water samples in 2024. The highest readings — over 400 parts per trillion — were near Pittsburgh International Airport. These chemicals are called "forever chemicals" because they accumulate in body fat over decades and never fully leave.
Filter comparison
| Contaminant | Pitcher (Brita) | Faucet filter | iSpring RCC7AK (RO) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorine & taste | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lead & heavy metals | ✗ | ~ | ✓ |
| Chromium-6 | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| PFAS forever chemicals | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Disinfection byproducts | ~ | ~ | ✓ |
| Nitrates & fluoride | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Bacteria & microplastics | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Adds healthy minerals back | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ remineralization stage |
| % of contaminants removed | ~40% | ~60% | Up to 99% |
| NSF certified | ~ | ~ | ✓ NSF/ANSI 58 |
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We match you with a licensed, insured Pittsburgh plumber who will install your iSpring RO system under the sink — usually in under two hours. No pressure, no upsell, no nonsense.
iSpring RCC7AK — NSF/ANSI 58 certified, removes up to 99% of contaminants
Professional install by a licensed local Pittsburgh plumber
System + install from around $350 total
Low annual upkeep — roughly $50–80/year in replacement filters
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In the meantime — maybe skip the tap water.