Tamaqua Area Water Authority
EPA ID: PA3540012 · 8,000 people served · 8 ZIP codes
Per EPA records, Tamaqua Area Water Authority: 2 unresolved violations, 8,000 people in service area.
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 25 (2021) to 1 (2026). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Tamaqua Area Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade D
Service Area Demographics
The Tamaqua Area Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $63,853 and an estimated 29,040 residents across its service area. Approximately 84% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 33% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Tamaqua Area 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 Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Tamaqua Area Water Authority compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
E. coli at 6 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.
Lead and Copper Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Fecal Coliform at 3 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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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
TAMAQUA AREA WATER AUTHORITY (EPA ID: PA3540012) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 8,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 8 ZIP codes across 8 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: D (49/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 24, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Health-based | Resolved |
| April 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Health-based | Resolved |
| February 10, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Health-based | Resolved |
| September 1, 2023 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2023 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2023 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | 6 | Yes |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 5 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 3 | No |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
E. coli (EPA limit: Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action))
Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children At-risk groups: children under 5, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women.
Removal methods: UV disinfection (99.99%), chlorination, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) (EPA limit: 0.08 mg/L)
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns At-risk groups: pregnant women, long-term consumers of chlorinated water, people who frequently shower in chlorinated water.
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, point-of-entry aeration. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water 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: 7 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 17960 — New Ringgold
- 17982 — Tuscarora
- 18214 — Barnesville
- 18237 — Mcadoo
- 18240 — Nesquehoning
- 18245 — Quakake
- 18250 — Summit Hill
- 18252 — Tamaqua
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Tamaqua Area Water Authority (PA3540012) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Tamaqua Area Water Authority water safe to drink?
Tamaqua Area Water Authority has recorded 7 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does Tamaqua Area Water Authority serve?
Tamaqua Area Water Authority serves approximately 8,000 people across 8 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.
Where does Tamaqua Area Water Authority get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
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.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from TAMAQUA AREA 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: Tested Clean
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.
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 →
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.
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 TAMAQUA AREA 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.
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.
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
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
Tamaqua Area Water Authority (EPA ID: PA3540012) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.