Historical Compliance Records PA

North Wales Water Authority

EPA ID: PA1460048 ยท 72,496 people served ยท 15 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA records for North Wales Water Authority (PA1460048): a UCMR5 PFAS sample above the level of an EPA PFAS MCL, which takes effect in 2029; this is not a violation. 11 violations on file at North Wales Water Authority, none open; 72,496 people served.

Data: EPA SDWIS

D ยท 44
Avg Safety Score
72,496
People Served
15
ZIP Codes Served
11
Violations (since 2021)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0016 mg/L
Most recent lead 90th percentile on record (monitoring period ending 2025-09-30)
Zone 1
County Radon Potential ยท High
4
Contaminants Flagged
$472K
Median Home Value in ZIP Codes Served

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary - average Home Safety grade of mapped ZIPs: D

Demographics of ZIP Codes Served

$140,858
Median Household Income
220,863
Population of ZIP Codes Served (Census)
7%
Disadvantaged Population
20th
Poverty Percentile
31th
Energy Burden Percentile
67%
Pre-1986 Housing

The ZIP codes associated with North Wales Water Authority have a median household income of $140,858 and about 220,863 residents live in those ZIP codes (Census; not the number of people this system supplies). Approximately 67% 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

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
69th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
89th
Superfund Site Proximity

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 69th 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 89th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

52 yr
Estimated pipe age (modeled from housing age)
Copper
Likely pipe material (modeled)
18 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating decay (model estimate)
Decay Status
Installed 74% of expected lifespan used (estimate) End of life

PFAS in ZIP Codes This System Serves

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been reported in samples from water systems associated with the ZIP codes in this system's area. These results can come from other water systems serving the same ZIP codes; check the UCMR5 section for any results reported for this system. 131 detections recorded. 37 detections are above the level of a federal PFAS MCL (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS), with compliance required from 2029.

State PFAS values in our reference data (state drinking-water standard (enforceable)); check current state rules: PFOA: 14 ppt, PFOS: 18 ppt
Health concern: Exposure to certain PFAS has been associated with some cancers and with immune and developmental effects; effects differ by compound. Many PFAS break down very slowly in the environment.
Recommended filter: An activated carbon filter certified under NSF/ANSI 53 or a reverse osmosis system certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for the PFAS listed in its certification. Find the right filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Pennsylvania

D 25 violations
Capital Region Water
66,540 people
C 7 violations
D 2 violations
Altoona Water Authority
62,500 people
D 22 violations
D 1 violation

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

PFAS Treatment Lead Pipe Replacement Water Filtration
PFAS Treatment $593
Lead Pipe Replacement $256
Water Filtration $100
Total Estimated Cost $949

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

Illustrative per-household cost scenario based on stated assumptions:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (ZipCheckup estimate)

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 $949 (one-time) vs. $10,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These estimates are 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 15 ZIP codes across 15 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (44/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 5 of 15 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 11 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 10 resolved, 1 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
April 1, 2025 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Non-health-based Archived
March 1, 2025 Groundwater Rule Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2022 Groundwater Rule Non-health-based Resolved
April 1, 2022 Groundwater Rule Non-health-based Resolved
September 1, 2021 Groundwater Rule Non-health-based Resolved
September 1, 2021 Surface Water Treatment Rule Non-health-based Resolved
September 1, 2021 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule Non-health-based Resolved
August 1, 2021 Groundwater Rule Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2021 Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule Non-health-based Resolved
May 1, 2021 Groundwater Rule Non-health-based Resolved
February 1, 2021 Surface Water Treatment Rule Non-health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Groundwater Rule Other Violation 6 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring & Reporting 2 No
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring & Reporting 2 No
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Monitoring & Reporting 1 No

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0016 mg/L No 2025-09-30

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

15 of 15 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

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 available EPA compliance records for North Wales Water Authority (PA1460048) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is North Wales Water Authority water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for North Wales Water Authority; its 11 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does North Wales Water Authority serve?

North Wales Water Authority serves approximately 72,496 people across 15 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.

Where does North Wales Water Authority get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Sample Above an EPA MCL Value or State Standard

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). One or more PFAS measurements were above the level of the EPA MCL for that compound (April 2024 rule, which takes effect in 2029) or above an applicable state drinking-water standard; a monitoring result above that level is not by itself a violation.

Samples collected
464
Detections
68
Latest sample
3/19/2025
Highest analyte
PFOA: 13 ppt
Analyte Max detected EPA MCL (compliance required from 2029) Status
PFOA 13 ppt 4 ppt
PA standard: 14 ppt
Above EPA MCL value (compliance required from 2029)
PFOS 11.1 ppt 4 ppt
PA standard: 18 ppt
Above EPA MCL value (compliance required from 2029)
PFPeA 9.3 ppt No federal MCL โ€”
PFHxA 8.1 ppt No federal MCL โ€”
PFBA 6.8 ppt No federal MCL โ€”
PFBS 6.4 ppt No federal MCL โ€”

EPA's April 2024 PFAS rule sets MCLs of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS and 10 ppt for PFHxS, PFNA and HFPO-DA (GenX); water systems must comply from 2029. Other PFAS compounds have no individual federal MCL. A state standard is shown only where this system's state has its own enforceable PFAS limit. Detection results are EPA UCMR5 samples, not a measurement at your tap.

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 North Wales Water Authority safe to drink? ▼
North Wales Water Authority has 11 recorded violations since 2021. The D shown is a ZIP-area score, not a grade for this utility; see the violation table for what was violated.
Should I use a water filter? ▼
Given 11 recorded violations, review the violation types and dates; a filter certified for a specific contaminant of concern can reduce that contaminant at the tap. Monitoring or reporting violations are not something a filter addresses.
How many people does North Wales Water Authority serve? ▼
North Wales Water Authority serves approximately 72,496 people with drinking water across 15 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 most recent 90th-percentile lead result on record is 0.0016 mg/L (sample period ending 2025-09-30). This is at or below the EPA lead action level, which triggers system action and is not a safe level; the EPA health goal for lead is zero.
What is the demographic profile of the ZIP codes associated with North Wales Water Authority? ▼
The ZIP codes mapped to North Wales Water Authority have a median household income of $140,858 (Census ZIP-code estimate). 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. The available violation history and environmental indicators place this system in the elevated review category; they do not measure current source contamination.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). North Wales Water Authority (PA): 11 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa1460048/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-pa1460048,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{North Wales Water Authority (PA): 11 EPA Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa1460048/}
}

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

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

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