Historical Compliance Records PA 2 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Pottstown Borough Water Authority

EPA ID: PA1460037 ยท 36,000 people served ยท 1 ZIP code

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Pottstown Borough Water Authority (PA1460037): 2 past health-based violations, since resolved. In the five-year tracking period, Pottstown Borough Water Authority filed 6 violations - each has been cleared, and the utility now meets all federal standards for its 36,000 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS

D ยท 47
Avg Safety Score
36,000
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
6
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0009 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
4
Contaminants Flagged
$232K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Pottstown Borough Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$76,338
Median Household Income
48,084
Service Area Population
7%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
75%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Pottstown Borough Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $76,338 and an estimated 48,084 residents across its service area. Approximately 75% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

๐ŸŒŠ Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Pottstown Borough 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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
70th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
90th
Superfund Site Proximity

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 90th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

75 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
0 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 100% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Pottstown Borough Water Authority compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Lead and Copper Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 0800 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Fecal Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 8 detections recorded. 2 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).

State limits: PFOA: 0.014 ppt, PFOS: 0.018 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Pennsylvania

F 4 violations
Aqua Pa Uwchlan
35,518 people
D 0 violations
B 12 violations
F 107 violations
Pa American Coatesville
36,960 people
C 4 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance Water Filtration PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
Water Filtration $600
PFAS Treatment $600
Total Estimated Cost $3,600

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,165
10 years
$10,330
20 years
$20,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,600 (one-time) vs. $10,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Pottstown Borough Water Authority (EPA ID: PA1460037) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 36,000 people from surface water sources.

This system serves ZIP code 19464 in Pottstown.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (47/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 1 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No current noncompliance in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot. The 6 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 6 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 0 unaddressed. Under this source contract, current noncompliance is the sum of addressed and unaddressed records. Archived and resolved records are excluded from current noncompliance.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
October 25, 2023 Lead and Copper Rule Non-health-based Resolved
September 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Non-health-based Resolved
September 1, 2023 Contaminant 0800 Health-based Resolved
January 10, 2023 Lead and Copper Rule Non-health-based Resolved
November 1, 2022 Contaminant 0800 Health-based Resolved
January 1, 2021 Fecal Coliform Non-health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Contaminant 0800 Other Violation 2 Yes
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 No
Fecal Coliform Microbiological 1 No

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0009 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

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 $20โ€“$50 (DIY kit) ยท Professional inspection: $150โ€“$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking โ€” this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by PA or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Pottstown Borough Water Authority (PA1460037) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pottstown Borough Water Authority water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Pottstown Borough Water Authority; its 6 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Pottstown Borough Water Authority serve?

Pottstown Borough Water Authority serves approximately 36,000 people across 1 ZIP code in Pennsylvania.

Where does Pottstown Borough 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.

Samples collected
116
Detections
9
Latest sample
6/18/2025
Highest analyte
PFBA: 12.6 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 12.6 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFPeA 7.4 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFHxA 5.9 ppt โ€” โ€”
PFBS 5 ppt โ€” โ€”

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) โ€” per-system federal sampling, 2023โ€“2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program โ†’

Understand PFAS health context and filtration โ†’

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Pottstown Borough Water Authority safe to drink?
Pottstown Borough Water Authority has a D safety grade based on 6 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Pottstown Borough Water Authority's water?
Detected contaminants include Lead and Copper Rule, Contaminant 0800, Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Fecal Coliform. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 4 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Pottstown Borough Water Authority serve?
Pottstown Borough Water Authority serves approximately 36,000 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is Pottstown Borough Water Authority's water source?
Pottstown Borough Water Authority draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Pottstown Borough Water Authority's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0009 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Pottstown Borough Water Authority's service area?
The Pottstown Borough Water Authority service area has a median household income of $76,338. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Pottstown Borough Water Authority get its water?
Pottstown Borough 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. Based on the exported violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is classified as elevated.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Pottstown Borough Water Authority (PA): 2 Health Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa1460037/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-pa1460037,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Pottstown Borough Water Authority (PA): 2 Health Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa1460037/}
}

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ†’

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ†’

3

Contact your utility

Pottstown Borough Water Authority (EPA ID: PA1460037) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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