The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority on Friday approved a new lead service line replacement policy under which the authority will replace both the public and privately owned portions of those lines.

The authority's goal is to fully replace 2,100 lead service lines this year and it has budgeted $44 million for the work.

Robert Weimar, PWSA's interim executive director, said expanding the authority's lead service line replacement work will double the cost but it's the right thing to do.

He said the new policy goes above and beyond what's required in a state Department of Environmental Protection Consent Order that requires PWSA to replace at least 7 percent of the publicly owned lead service lines but not the privately owned portions.

Mr. Weimar acknowledged that it will be difficult for the authority to meet that 2100 replacement line goal, but said there are indications that DEP could be flexible.

"We are hopeful if we start now that we can approach that number," he said. "But when we negotiated the agreement it was understood that if we go to full line replacement The DEP will allow for more time beyond the December 31st end date."

First Published: January 26, 2018, 5:58 p.m.