Pennsylvania Water Quality Report: 38,995 Violations Across 1,313 ZIPs
2,519 water systems · 1,313 ZIP codes · 38,995 violations · Updated
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO Last verified:
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 2,519 public water systems serving 1,313 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania. The state record shows 38,995 EPA violations, 1,598 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: Pennsylvania
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Violation Trend
EPA violations across all water systems in Pennsylvania.
Cities with Most Violations in Pennsylvania
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brodheadsville | 1,204 | 2 | 2,821 | Details → | |
| 2 | Phoenixville | 983 | 5 | 43,927 | Details → | |
| 3 | Norristown | 971 | 5 | 87,066 | Details → | |
| 4 | Collegeville | 881 | 5 | 43,284 | Details → | |
| 5 | East Greenville | 314 | 4 | 5,665 | Details → | |
| 6 | Pennsburg | 308 | 4 | 11,534 | Details → | |
| 7 | Red Hill | 305 | 2 | 3,013 | Details → | |
| 8 | Warminster | 273 | 5 | 42,984 | Details → | |
| 9 | Jersey Shore | 266 | 4 | 11,600 | Details → | |
| 10 | Williamsport | 261 | 4 | 53,675 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in Pennsylvania
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4,476 | 572 | No |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 2,186 | 611 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,812 | 643 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,765 | 665 | Yes |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,491 | 469 | Yes |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 1,447 | 599 | Yes |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 1,336 | 487 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 1,090 | 416 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 836 | 459 | No |
| Barium | Inorganic | 499 | 285 | Yes |
Water Quality Overview
Pennsylvania has 2,519 community water systems represented across 1,313 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 12,595,967 people. The available records contain 38,995 EPA violations, including 1,598 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 4% of all violations in Pennsylvania. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 1,598 | 4.1% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 37,397 | 95.9% |
| Total | 38,995 | 100% |
Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeding EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report - these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in Pennsylvania have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brodheadsville | 1,204 | 2 | 2,821 |
| 2 | Phoenixville | 983 | 5 | 43,927 |
| 3 | Norristown | 971 | 5 | 87,066 |
| 4 | Collegeville | 881 | 5 | 43,284 |
| 5 | East Greenville | 314 | 4 | 5,665 |
| 6 | Pennsburg | 308 | 4 | 11,534 |
| 7 | Red Hill | 305 | 2 | 3,013 |
| 8 | Warminster | 273 | 5 | 42,984 |
| 9 | Jersey Shore | 266 | 4 | 11,600 |
| 10 | Williamsport | 261 | 4 | 53,675 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in Pennsylvania:
| Year | Total Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 305 | 305 |
| 2022 | 562 | 562 |
| 2023 | 327 | 327 |
| 2024 | 638 | 638 |
| 2025 | 576 | 576 |
| 2026 | 23 | 23 |
Violations have decreased from 305 in 2021 to 23 in 2026, suggesting improving compliance across Pennsylvania.
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across Pennsylvania water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4,476 | 572 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,812 | 643 | Yes |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,765 | 665 | Yes |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 1,491 | 469 | Yes |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 1,447 | 599 | Yes |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 1,336 | 487 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 1,090 | 416 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 836 | 459 | No |
| Barium | Inorganic | 499 | 285 | Yes |
| Selenium | Inorganic | 477 | 259 | No |
How to Check Your Water in Pennsylvania
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the separate Home Safety Score is a multi-source index
Request your CCR - every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test - certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken 12,462 enforcement actions against water systems in Pennsylvania. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
What are EPA violations?
Health-based violations mean a contaminant was detected above the EPA's Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) - the legal limit designed to protect human health. Pennsylvania has 1,598 such violations across its water systems. Not all violations cause illness, but repeated exceedances increase risk, especially for children and immunocompromised individuals.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grade A means few or no violations; Grade F indicates persistent or serious issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has 2,519 community water systems with 38,995 recorded EPA violations, including 1,598 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many water violations does Pennsylvania have?
Pennsylvania has 38,995 total EPA violations across 1,313 ZIP codes. 1,598 are health-based violations that indicate contaminant levels potentially harmful to human health. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in Pennsylvania has the worst water quality?
Brodheadsville, PA has the most EPA violations among major cities in Pennsylvania with 1204 recorded violations. Check individual ZIP codes for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in Pennsylvania has the best water quality?
Several cities in Pennsylvania maintain excellent EPA compliance. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in Pennsylvania drinking water?
Pennsylvania water systems are monitored for over 90 EPA-regulated contaminants including lead, copper, nitrates, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region - check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.