Water testing update expected amid Pittsburgh contamination concerns

Water precautions continue as the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) is expected to announce results from the Department of Environmental Protection’s water inspection later Thusday.  

Schools re-opened Thursday after the water safety concerns led to multiple school closures and water use restrictions throughout the city.

PWSA officials told Fox News the advisories to flush and boil tap water affect 100,000 residents. 

Schools under the advisory have taken measures to cover up water fountains and provide hand sanitizer to students who do not want to use the water to wash their hands, Pittsburgh Public Schools said in a statement. 

Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection raised concerns about the city’s water filtration after tests showed low chlorine levels, but PWSA’s interim director of engineering said the measures taken are out of an abundance of caution.

“From our point of view, we don’t believe that there is a significant threat to public health,” Robert Weimar said.

Weimar specified the violation was found in the second filtration treatment process. He added that PWSA has tested the water for Giardia–a main water contaminant–and they have not found signs of the parasite.

More than a dozen water distribution sites were placed throughout the city during the adivsory period.