Pennsylvania Water Report Card: Worst Water Systems
The most contaminated public water systems in Pennsylvania, ranked by PFAS levels, lead, and EPA violations from official EPA data.
Quick Answer
Collegeville Trappe Joint Pwd has the highest PFAS in Pennsylvania at 235 ppt (59x the EPA limit). Muncy Borough Water Company has the highest lead at 890 ppb. The tables below rank the worst systems in each category so you can see how your water compares.
Highest PFAS Levels in Pennsylvania
Public water systems in Pennsylvania with the highest peak PFAS ("forever chemical") reading in EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025). The EPA enforceable limit for PFOA and PFOS is 4 ppt.
| # | Water System | Location | Peak PFAS (ppt) | Compounds | vs 4 ppt limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Collegeville Trappe Joint Pwd | Trappe · 8,470 served | 235 | 8 | 59x |
| 2 | Telford Borough Authority | Telford · 7,700 served | 202.2 | 9 | 51x |
| 3 | Emmaus Borough Public Water | Emmaus · 14,000 served | 153 | 13 | 38x |
| 4 | Caernarvon Twp Auth | Morgantown · 4,245 served | 92 | 6 | 23x |
| 5 | Horsham Water&Sewer Authority | Horsham · 26,000 served | 65.3 | 8 | 16x |
| 6 | Audubon Water Company | Norristown · 8,200 served | 57.9 | 9 | 14x |
| 7 | Phoenixville Water Dept | Phoenixville · 16,599 served | 57.3 | 6 | 14x |
| 8 | Shrewsbury Borough | Shrewsbury · 4,727 served | 43 | 8 | 11x |
| 9 | Clearfield Municipal Auth | Clearfield · 14,000 served | 41.6 | 1 | 10x |
| 10 | Palmerton Municipal Authority | Palmerton · 7,000 served | 37.1 | 8 | 9x |
| 11 | Beaver Falls Muni Auth | Beaver Falls · 49,500 served | 36.9 | 5 | 9x |
| 12 | Paw Penn District | Reading · 28,508 served | 30.4 | 8 | 8x |
Highest Lead Levels in Pennsylvania
Community water systems in Pennsylvania with the highest 90th-percentile lead result under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. The EPA action level is 15 ppb; there is no safe level of lead for children.
| # | Water System | Location | Lead 90th-pctile (ppb) | vs 15 ppb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Muncy Borough Water Company | Muncy · 2,900 served | 890 | 59.3x over |
| 2 | Duncannon Muni Water | Duncannon · 2,000 served | 301 | 20.1x over |
| 3 | Franklin System York Water | York · 4,400 served | 122 | 8.1x over |
| 4 | Us Army Garrison | Carlisle · 1,700 served | 60.8 | 4.1x over |
| 5 | Mun Water Auth Of Aliquippa | Aliquippa · 15,685 served | 49.7 | 3.3x over |
| 6 | Centre Hall Boro Water Dept | Centre Hall · 1,900 served | 43.3 | 2.9x over |
| 7 | Akron Borough | Akron · 4,200 served | 33 | 2.2x over |
| 8 | Hughesville Borough Water Auth | Hughesville · 2,800 served | 29.6 | 2.0x over |
| 9 | Petroleum Valley Rwa | Petrolia · 3,800 served | 27 | 1.8x over |
| 10 | Roulette Twp Water Authority | Roulette · 1,300 served | 24.5 | 1.6x over |
| 11 | Grantville Mhp | Farmington Hills · 1,040 served | 24 | 1.6x over |
| 12 | Jersey Shore Area Jnt Wat Auth | Jersey Shore · 6,600 served | 23.1 | 1.5x over |
Most EPA Violations in Pennsylvania
Community water systems in Pennsylvania with the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record. A health-based violation means a contaminant exceeded its federal limit or required treatment was not applied.
| # | Water System | Location | Health-based violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tri Cnty Jt Muni Auth | Fredericktown · 10,100 served | 39 |
| 2 | Jackson Twp Water Auth | Mineral Point · 4,236 served | 32 |
| 3 | Blawnox Boro Water Dept | Pittsburgh · 2,200 served | 26 |
| 4 | Midland Boro Muni Auth | Midland · 3,100 served | 23 |
| 5 | Ebensburg Boro Muni Auth | Ebensburg · 8,500 served | 23 |
| 6 | Falls Creek Boro Mun Auth | Falls Creek · 1,440 served | 22 |
| 7 | East Taylor Muni Auth | Johnstown · 3,152 served | 18 |
| 8 | Polk Center | Polk · 1,058 served | 16 |
| 9 | Point Marion Boro | Point Marion · 1,110 served | 16 |
| 10 | Blacklick Valley Muni Auth | Twin Rocks · 1,650 served | 14 |
| 11 | Pa American Water Steelton | Hummelstown · 6,428 served | 14 |
| 12 | Harmony Boro Water Auth | Harmony · 6,669 served | 12 |
How This Report Card Is Built
PFAS rankings use EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), showing each system's peak detection above the 4 ppt EPA limit. Lead rankings use the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results. Violation counts come from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and count health-based violations. Lead and violation lists are limited to community water systems serving 1,000 or more people. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most PFAS-contaminated water system in Pennsylvania?
In EPA UCMR5 testing (2023-2025), Collegeville Trappe Joint Pwd in Trappe had the highest recorded PFAS level in Pennsylvania at 235 ppt - about 59x the EPA's 4 ppt limit for PFOA and PFOS.
Which Pennsylvania water system has the highest lead levels?
Muncy Borough Water Company in Muncy had the highest 90th-percentile lead result in Pennsylvania under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule at 890 ppb - 59.3x the 15 ppb action level.
Which Pennsylvania water system has the most EPA violations?
Tri Cnty Jt Muni Auth in Fredericktown has the most health-based EPA Safe Drinking Water Act violations on record in Pennsylvania, with 39 violations.
Where does the Pennsylvania water report card data come from?
PFAS figures come from EPA UCMR5 monitoring (2023-2025), lead from the EPA Lead and Copper Rule 90th-percentile tap results, and violations from EPA SDWIS health-based violation records. Figures are the most severe on record and do not necessarily reflect current treated water. Check your exact address at knowyourexposure.com.
What Pennsylvania Residents Should Do
- Look up your exact address at knowyourexposure.com for your system's data
- See the full Pennsylvania water quality overview
- If your system is listed, a certified filter (reverse osmosis for PFAS, NSF-53 for lead) reduces exposure at the tap. See the best water filters.