Monitoring Violations PA

North Wales Water Authority

EPA ID: PA1460048 · 72,496 people served · 18 ZIP codes

In the current EPA monitoring period, North Wales Water Authority has 3 violations still listed as unresolved, with the utility supplying water to approximately 72,496 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

D · 51
Avg Safety Score
72,496
People Served
18
ZIP Codes Served
16
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0016 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
8
Contaminants Flagged
$477K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 6 (2021) to 5 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for North Wales Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$140,070
Median Household Income
249,340
Service Area Population
7%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
32th
Energy Burden Percentile
67%
Pre-1986 Housing

The North Wales Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $140,070 and an estimated 249,340 residents across its service area. Approximately 67% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

North Wales 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
68th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
88th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Bucks County, Pennsylvania rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 68th 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 88th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

51 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
18 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 74% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How North Wales Water Authority compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Contaminant 0700 at 7 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

E. coli at 2 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.

Fecal Coliform at 2 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. 150 detections recorded. 41 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS). 11 exceed state limits.

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 →

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Pennsylvania

C 17 violations
Capital Region Water
66,540 people
D 16 violations
D 2 violations
Altoona Water Authority
62,500 people
C 15 violations
D 2 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Lead Pipe Replacement Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,344
Radon Mitigation $1,200
PFAS Treatment $567
Lead Pipe Replacement $213
Water Filtration $33
Total Estimated Cost $3,358

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 $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,665
10 years
$15,330
20 years
$30,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $3,358 (one-time) vs. $15,330 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

NORTH WALES WATER AUTHORITY (EPA ID: PA1460048) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 72,496 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 18 ZIP codes across 17 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: D (51/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

16 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
April 1, 2025 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Unresolved
April 1, 2025 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Monitoring Unresolved
March 1, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Unresolved
February 1, 2024 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2024 Total Organic Carbon Monitoring Resolved
October 1, 2023 Contaminant 2005 Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 7 No
E. coli Microbiological 2 No
Fecal Coliform Microbiological 2 No
Contaminant 2005 Other Violation 1 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Total Organic Carbon Disinfection Byproducts 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:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
19454 0.0016 mg/L No N/A
19455 0.0016 mg/L No N/A

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 Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 16 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 2 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for North Wales Water Authority (PA1460048) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Wales Water Authority water safe to drink?

North Wales Water Authority has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does North Wales Water Authority serve?

North Wales Water Authority serves approximately 72,496 people across 18 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.

Where does North Wales Water Authority get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Contact Your Water Utility

Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.

Phone
215-699-4836
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Contact information from North Wales Water Authority Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.

Water Source & Treatment

Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.

Source
Blended (groundwater + surface water)
Combines water from both groundwater and surface sources.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
chlorine

Source: North Wales Water Authority Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from North Wales Water Authority Consumer Confidence Report:
The North Branch Neshaminy Creek intake is potentially most susceptible to point sources of pollution from auto repair shops, wastewater treatment plants, boating, quarries, on-lot septic systems, and gas stations. Non-point sources include major transportation corridors and runoff from areas of urban development, livestock farming, and industrial parks. The most serious potential sources are related to accidental release of a variety of materials along transportation corridors and high nutrient levels from Lake Galena. Groundwater sources are potentially most susceptible to transportation corridors, residential activities, railroad transportation, wastewater disposal, and golf courses.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Multi-stage
Multiple treatment stages — typically coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Common for surface-water systems requiring removal of particulates, microorganisms, and dissolved organic compounds before disinfection.

Treatment chemicals and what each one does

Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.

Disinfectant
Inactivates bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the treated water.
chlorine

Watershed exposure sources reported

Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.

Auto repair shopsWastewater treatment plantsBoatingQuarriesOn-lot septic systemsGas stationsTransportation corridorsUrban runoffLivestock farmingIndustrial parksResidential activitiesRailroad transportationWastewater disposalGolf courses

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from North Wales Water Authority Consumer Confidence Report.

Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Above Current MCL

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS compounds were measured above the current state-enforceable MCL.

Samples collected
464
Detections
68
Latest sample
3/19/2025
Highest analyte
PFOA: 13 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFOA 13 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFOS 11.1 ppt 10 ppt Above current MCL
PFPeA 9.3 ppt
PFHxA 8.1 ppt
PFBA 6.8 ppt
PFBS 6.4 ppt

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 →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

PFAS Substances Detected in This System

This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.

Substance Detected level EPA limit Status
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
10.25 ppt 4 ppt Above EPA limit
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
11.35 ppt 4 ppt Above EPA limit
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
Component of EPA Hazard Index — combined exposure assessed against unitless threshold of 1.0.
6.37 ppt No federal limit set
PFHpA
Not yet EPA-regulated
4.57 ppt No federal limit set
PFHxS
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
3.97 ppt 10 ppt Below EPA limit
PFNA
Perfluorononanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
3.67 ppt 10 ppt Below EPA limit
PFHxA
Not yet EPA-regulated
7.06 ppt No federal limit set
PFBA
Not yet EPA-regulated
6.18 ppt No federal limit set
PFPeA
Not yet EPA-regulated
8.9 ppt No federal limit set

In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →

Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by North Wales Water Authority.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.

Learn more about PFAS health effects and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

2
Confirmed Lead
3
Galvanized — Replacement Required
17,382
Unknown Material
7,343
Confirmed Non-Lead

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-06-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 72,496
Reported to Pennsylvania

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from North Wales Water Authority safe to drink?
North Wales Water Authority has a D safety grade based on 16 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in North Wales Water Authority's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Contaminant 0700, E. coli. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 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 North Wales Water Authority serve?
North Wales Water Authority serves approximately 72,496 people with drinking water across 18 ZIP codes.
What is North Wales Water Authority's water source?
North Wales Water Authority draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in North Wales Water Authority's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0016 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of North Wales Water Authority's service area?
The North Wales Water Authority service area has a median household income of $140,070. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does North Wales Water Authority get its water?
North Wales 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 violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

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 →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

North Wales Water Authority (EPA ID: PA1460048) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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