Chester Water Authority
EPA ID: PA1230004 · 140,437 people served · 35 ZIP codes
Chester Water Authority shows 1 open EPA violation in current federal records for approximately 140,437 people.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 2 (2022) to 2 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Chester Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade D
Service Area Demographics
The Chester Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $120,133 and an estimated 439,388 residents across its service area. Approximately 59% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Chester Water Authority's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.
About 1% of homes in Delaware County, Pennsylvania rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 79th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Chester Water Authority compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Contaminant 0700 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Lead and Copper Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 242 detections recorded. 74 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 5 exceed state limits.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
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Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.
System Overview
Chester Water Authority (EPA ID: PA1230004) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 140,437 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 35 ZIP codes across 32 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: D (47/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 1, 2025 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| November 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Copper | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | No |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 2 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Copper | Inorganic | 1 | No |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Need help with your water quality?
Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400
Find the Right Water FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 23 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 12 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 35 ZIP codes:
19013 · 19014 · 19015 · 19016 · 19017 19022 · 19028 · 19037 · 19039 · 19060 19061 · 19063 · 19065 · 19073 · 19081 19086 · 19088 · 19091 · 19094 · 19311 19317 · 19319 · 19320 · 19330 · 19339 19342 · 19348 · 19350 · 19352 · 19362 19363 · 19373 · 19374 · 19382 · 19390
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Chester Water Authority (PA1230004) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Chester Water Authority water safe to drink?
Chester Water Authority has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Chester Water Authority serve?
Chester Water Authority serves approximately 140,437 people across 35 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.
Where does Chester Water Authority get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.
Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
Chester Water Authority (EPA ID: PA1230004) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.