Reading, PA Water Quality Report
Is Reading tap water safe? See PFAS and lead contamination levels for Reading, Pennsylvania. Compare to EPA limits and get filter recommendations.
Quick Answers
Is Reading, PA tap water safe to drink? Reading, PA tap water meets most federal EPA limits, but PFAS compounds have been detected at an average of 5.96 ppt across 9 compounds. A certified pitcher filter or reverse osmosis system is recommended for sensitive populations.
What contaminants are in Reading, PA water? Top PFAS compounds detected in Reading water: PFPeA (16 ppt), PFHxA (15.6 ppt), PFOS (11.5 ppt). See the full table for all monitored contaminants and comparison to EPA limits.
What filter should I use in Reading, PA? Match the filter to what's in Pennsylvania water: reverse osmosis handles PFAS, lead, and arsenic together (90%+ removal); pitchers certified to NSF-53 for PFAS like ZeroWater or PUR PLUS cover taps you drink from. A standard Brita pitcher will not remove PFAS.
Reading, PA Water Quality Summary
EPA testing has detected PFAS "forever chemicals" in Reading, PA drinking water. Recent monitoring found a peak level of 16 ppt across 3 water systems, representing an average of 5.96 ppt across 9 detected compounds. These levels come from individual EPA UCMR 5 water samples (2023-2025). The EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS is enforced on a running annual average, so a sample above it shows real exposure but is not by itself a violation.
Contamination Level: LOW – Low contamination – PFAS detected but at lower levels; monitoring continues.
Top Detected Compounds
- PFPeA: 16 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFHxA: 15.6 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFOS: 11.5 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFOA: 8.8 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
- PFBA: 6.6 ppt (exceeds EPA 4 ppt limit for PFOA/PFOS)
Lead in Reading, PA Water
EPA Lead and Copper Rule testing has recorded 18 lead samples for Reading water systems, with a 90th-percentile high of 0.005 mg/L (within the EPA 0.015 mg/L action level). There is no safe level of lead for children; if your home was built before 1986, a certified NSF/ANSI 53 lead-removal filter is recommended.
EPA Violations in Reading, PA
Reading public water systems have 9 health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record, including Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, Revised Total Coliform Rule, Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rule. Health-based violations mean a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
About the Data
These figures come from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule 5 (UCMR5) testing program, 2023-2025. UCMR5 is the most comprehensive national PFAS survey of US drinking water, covering about 10,000 public water systems. Population of Reading, PA: approximately 95,112.
ZIP Codes Served
What Reading, Pennsylvania Residents Should Do
- Enter your exact ZIP code at knowyourexposure.com for address-level data
- If anyone in your household is pregnant or under 5, prioritize a certified PFAS filter now and consider a home test kit
- For long-term protection, an NSF/ANSI 58 reverse osmosis system removes 94-99% of PFAS
- Read the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) your Pennsylvania utility publishes each year