Historical Compliance Records PA

Penn State Univ

EPA ID: PA4140095 ยท 37,000 people served ยท 3 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for Penn State Univ (PA4140095): 45 EPA violations in the last five years. Five years tracked: Penn State Univ had 45 violations, all cleared, 37,000 served.

Data: EPA SDWIS

D ยท 50
Avg Safety Score
37,000
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
45
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.0108 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk ยท High
25
Contaminants Flagged
$398K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Penn State Univ Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$67,407
Median Household Income
79,312
Service Area Population
6%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
37%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Penn State Univ serves a community with a median household income of $67,407 and an estimated 79,312 residents across its service area.

๐Ÿ’ง Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Penn State Univ'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
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
70th
Superfund Site Proximity

Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 70th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.

Infrastructure Risk

43 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
27 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 61% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Penn State Univ compares to EPA limits

PFOA 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.000004 mg/L
PFNA 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.00001 mg/L
Chlorodibromomethane 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.002 mg/L
Liver cancer, brain cancer (known carcinogen)
Bromate 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.01 mg/L
Monochloroacetic Acid 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L

What This Means For You

PFOA at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.000004 mg/L.

PFNA at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.00001 mg/L.

Chlorodibromomethane at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.002 mg/L. Liver cancer, brain cancer (known carcinogen). Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Bromate at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.01 mg/L.

Monochloroacetic Acid at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 2 detections recorded.

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†’

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

Find a certified water filter โ†’

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Pennsylvania

Pa American Coatesville
36,960 people
C 4 violations
F 107 violations
Moon Twp Muni Authority
38,000 people
F 4 violations
F 4 violations
D 6 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $800
PFAS Treatment $167
Total Estimated Cost $2,167

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 $2,167 (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

Penn State Univ (EPA ID: PA4140095) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 37,000 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 2 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: D (50/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 1 of 3 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 45 records in the 2021-2026 window are classified as resolved or archived, not current.

Status breakdown for accepted records with record years 2021-2026: 45 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
January 1, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Non-health-based Resolved
October 1, 2024 Contaminant 4100 Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 PFOA Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 PFNA Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Monochloroacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Dichloroacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Bromodichloromethane Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Dibromochloromethane Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Chlorodibromomethane Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Trichloroacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Monobromoacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Dibromoacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Bromochloroacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Bromodichloroacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Chlorodibromoacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Tribromoacetic Acid Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 HAA6Br Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 HAA9 Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Bromate Non-health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Chlorate Non-health-based Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
PFOA PFAS 2 No
PFNA PFAS 2 No
Monochloroacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Dichloroacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Bromodichloromethane Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Dibromochloromethane Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Chlorodibromomethane Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Trichloroacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Monobromoacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Dibromoacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Bromochloroacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Bromodichloroacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Chlorodibromoacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Tribromoacetic Acid Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
HAA6Br Disinfection Byproducts 2 No

Lead & Copper

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

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0108 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 Penn State Univ (PA4140095) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Penn State Univ water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot shows no current noncompliance for Penn State Univ; its 45 accepted 2021-2026 records are resolved or archived. Historical compliance status does not establish conditions at a specific tap.

How many people does Penn State Univ serve?

Penn State Univ serves approximately 37,000 people across 3 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.

Where does Penn State Univ get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

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.

Samples collected
58

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 Penn State Univ safe to drink?
Penn State Univ has a D safety grade based on 45 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits - independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Penn State Univ's water?
Detected contaminants include PFOA, PFNA, Chlorodibromomethane, Bromate. 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 Penn State Univ serve?
Penn State Univ serves approximately 37,000 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Penn State Univ's water source?
Penn State Univ draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Penn State Univ's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0108 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Penn State Univ's service area?
The Penn State Univ service area has a median household income of $67,407. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Penn State Univ get its water?
Penn State Univ'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.). Penn State Univ (PA): 45 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa4140095/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-pa4140095,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Penn State Univ (PA): 45 EPA Violations}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa4140095/}
}

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

Penn State Univ (EPA ID: PA4140095) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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