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
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Penn State Univ Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary - Grade D
Service Area Demographics
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.
๐ง Where Does Your Water Come From?
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.
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
Detected Contaminants
How Penn State Univ compares to EPA limits
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.
Chlorodibromomethane was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter โComparable 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
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
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 FilterFree 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.
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, 2023โ2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program 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
How to cite this page
ZipCheckup. (n.d.). Penn State Univ (PA): 45 EPA Violations. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa4140095/
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author = {{ZipCheckup}},
title = {{Penn State Univ (PA): 45 EPA Violations}},
year = {n.d.},
url = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/pa4140095/}
}
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter โ
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report โ
Contact your utility
Penn State Univ (EPA ID: PA4140095) - request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.