Current Noncompliance PA

Bowmanstown Authority

EPA ID: PA3130021 · 900 people served · 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Bowmanstown Authority (PA3130021): 2 unresolved EPA violations on record. With 2 unresolved EPA violations, Bowmanstown Authority is currently out of full compliance - approximately 900 people in its service area.

Data: EPA SDWIS

900
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
7
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0186 mg/L
Max Lead Level - Exceeds Limit
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
6
Contaminants Flagged
$195K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Bowmanstown Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary

Service Area Demographics

$65,250
Median Household Income
21,414
Service Area Population
21%
Disadvantaged Population
47th
Poverty Percentile
90th
Energy Burden Percentile
79%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Bowmanstown Authority serves a community with a median household income of $65,250 and an estimated 21,414 residents across its service area. Approximately 79% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Bowmanstown Authority's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
33th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
67th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 67th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

80 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Lead
Pipe Material
7 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 92% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Bowmanstown 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.

Stage 1 DBP Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Radium-226 at 1 pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L) exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L). Bone cancer and leukemia (known carcinogen). Consider ion exchange (water softener) filtration.

Radium-228 at 1 pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L) exceeds the EPA maximum of pCi/L (combined Radium-226 & 228 ≤ 5 pCi/L). Bone cancer and leukemia (known carcinogen). Consider ion exchange (water softener) filtration.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

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

33 violations
9 violations
0 violations
0 violations
Ridglea
900 people
6 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Lead Pipe Replacement Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Lead Pipe Replacement $3,300
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $200
Water Filtration $100
Total Estimated Cost $6,000

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.)

Lead Exposure - Child Lifetime Cost $10,000

Per affected child (EPA est.)

PFAS Exposure - Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,945
10 years
$15,890
20 years
$31,780

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $6,000 (one-time) vs. $15,890 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

Bowmanstown Authority (EPA ID: PA3130021) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 900 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Violation History

2 current noncompliance records in the accepted 2026Q2 snapshot; none are classified as health-based in this evidence.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 5 resolved, 0 archived, 0 addressed, and 2 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
July 1, 2024 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2024 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Non-health-based Resolved
March 1, 2024 Contaminant 0700 Non-health-based Resolved
July 1, 2023 Stage 1 DBP Rule Non-health-based Unaddressed (current)
October 1, 2022 Stage 1 DBP Rule Non-health-based Unaddressed (current)
October 1, 2022 Radium-226 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2022 Radium-228 Non-health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Radium-226 Radionuclides 1 No
Radium-228 Radionuclides 1 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 1 No

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0186 mg/L Yes N/A
Lead exceeds EPA action level in at least one sampling location. Consider using a certified NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 filter rated for lead removal.

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 $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: 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 Bowmanstown Authority (PA3130021) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bowmanstown Authority water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows 2 current noncompliance records and zero current records classified as health-based. That classification is not a property-specific water test or safety guarantee.

How many people does Bowmanstown Authority serve?

Bowmanstown Authority serves approximately 900 people across 3 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.

Where does Bowmanstown Authority get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Frequently Asked Questions

What contaminants are in Bowmanstown Authority's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), Stage 1 DBP Rule, Radium-226. 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 Bowmanstown Authority serve?
Bowmanstown Authority serves approximately 900 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Bowmanstown Authority's water source?
Bowmanstown Authority draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Bowmanstown Authority's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0186 mg/L. This exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. A lead-certified filter is recommended, especially for homes with young children.
What is the demographic profile of Bowmanstown Authority's service area?
The Bowmanstown Authority service area has a median household income of $65,250. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Bowmanstown Authority get its water?
Bowmanstown Authority's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. 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.). Bowmanstown Authority (PA): 7 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa3130021/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-pa3130021,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Bowmanstown Authority (PA): 7 EPA Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa3130021/}
}

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

Bowmanstown Authority (EPA ID: PA3130021) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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