Fox Chapel Authority
EPA ID: PA5020040 · 18,500 people served · 79 ZIP codes
In the five-year tracking period, Fox Chapel Authority filed 11 violations — each has been cleared, and the utility now meets all federal standards for its 18,500 residents.
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 80 (2024) to 1 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Fox Chapel Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Fox Chapel Authority serves a community with a median household income of $73,597 and an estimated 714,379 residents across its service area. Approximately 86% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Fox Chapel 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 Allegheny 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 Fox Chapel Authority compares to EPA limits
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.
E. coli at 2 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.
Fecal Coliform at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 4 detections recorded. 1 exceeds federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
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
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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
Fox Chapel Authority (EPA ID: PA5020040) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 18,500 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 79 ZIP codes across 3 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (59/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2025 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| May 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| May 1, 2023 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2023 | Contaminant 2959 | 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 | 2 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2959 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 1 | Yes |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15238 | 0.00358 mg/L | No | N/A |
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: 4 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 75 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 79 ZIP codes:
15024 · 15116 · 15201 · 15202 · 15203 15204 · 15205 · 15206 · 15207 · 15208 15209 · 15210 · 15211 · 15212 · 15213 15214 · 15215 · 15216 · 15217 · 15218 15219 · 15220 · 15221 · 15222 · 15223 15224 · 15225 · 15226 · 15227 · 15228 15229 · 15230 · 15231 · 15232 · 15233 15234 · 15235 · 15236 · 15237 · 15238 15239 · 15240 · 15241 · 15242 · 15243 15244 · 15250 · 15251 · 15252 · 15253 15254 · 15255 · 15257 · 15258 · 15259 15260 · 15261 · 15262 · 15263 · 15264 15265 · 15267 · 15268 · 15270 · 15272 15273 · 15274 · 15275 · 15276 · 15277 15278 · 15279 · 15281 · 15282 · 15283 15286 · 15289 · 15290 · 15295
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Fox Chapel Authority (PA5020040) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Fox Chapel Authority water safe to drink?
Fox Chapel Authority has recorded 1 health-based violation 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 Fox Chapel Authority serve?
Fox Chapel Authority serves approximately 18,500 people across 79 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.
Where does Fox Chapel 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 FOX CHAPEL AUTH 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 →
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.
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
Fox Chapel Authority (EPA ID: PA5020040) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.