In this episode, we explore how cost-cutting may be to blame for high levels of lead in Pittsburgh’s drinking water and take a look at an effort to update federal lead rules.
Listen to this episode (29:00)
Stories in this episode
As in Flint, Cost-Cutting May Be to Blame for Pittsburgh’s High Lead Levels - The decision to switch to a cheaper, less-effective treatment chemical was likely a major contributor to the recent spike in lead levels in Pittsburgh's drinking water.
What’s the Best Way to Protect People from Lead-Tainted Drinking Water? - Some say it's better corrosion control. Others say it's getting lead service lines out of the system altogether. But many observers agree that current federal regulations are totally inadequate.
Pittsburgh Tried To Get Homeowners To Replace Their Lead Service Lines. Only One Person Did. - A pilot project in Lawrenceville highlights the complexity of getting lead pipes out of the city's water system.
Here’s What Happens Inside a Lab Testing Pittsburghers’ Water For Lead - Some fancy science, that's what. As in some inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy — a process that can analyze samples quickly and with super-accurate results.
Here’s How to Tell if You Have Lead Pipes in Your Home - This easy how-to guide helps you check if you might have lead lurking in your home's pipes and faucets. 
Is a Petrochemical Boom Heading for Pennsylvania? - Shell's ethane cracker may prove to just be an opening act. A new state-commissioned report says that by 2030, Pennsylvania could be a major hub for the nation's petrochemical industry.
