Highridge Water Authority
EPA ID: PA5650069 · 16,000 people served · 22 ZIP codes
Right now, Highridge Water Authority shows 6 EPA violations marked active and unresolved — the provider continues to supply approximately 16,000 residents while each finding awaits closure.
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 1 (2021) to 1 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Highridge Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade D
Service Area Demographics
The Highridge Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $63,314 and an estimated 112,720 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?
Highridge 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 Westmoreland 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 Highridge Water Authority compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Atrazine at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.003 mg/L. Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 6 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Lead and Copper Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 75 detections recorded. 24 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Atrazine 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
HIGHRIDGE WATER AUTH (EPA ID: PA5650069) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 16,000 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 22 ZIP codes across 22 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: D (51/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 1, 2025 | Chlorite | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| December 1, 2024 | E. coli | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Combined Radium | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 1, 2024 | E. coli | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 11, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Contaminant 2306 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| November 10, 2023 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| November 1, 2023 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| October 31, 2023 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Radium-228 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| September 30, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Health-based | Resolved |
| September 30, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2023 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 6 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 6 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 5 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 4 | No |
| Contaminant 2306 | Other Violation | 3 | No |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 3 | No |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 3 | No |
| Atrazine | Organic | 2 | Yes |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Total Organic Carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Combined Radium | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Atrazine (EPA limit: 0.003 mg/L)
Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, people in agricultural areas, rural communities in the Midwest corn belt.
Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15717 | 0.0064 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: 20 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 2 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.
- 15620 — Bradenville
- 15627 — Derry
- 15650 — Latrobe
- 15658 — Ligonier
- 15670 — New Alexandria
- 15671 — New Derry
- 15701 — Indiana
- 15714 — Northern Cambria
- 15716 — Black Lick
- 15717 — Blairsville
- 15720 — Brush Valley
- 15725 — Clarksburg
- 15748 — Homer City
- 15750 — Josephine
- 15765 — Penn Run
- 15779 — Torrance
- 15920 — Armagh
- 15923 — Bolivar
- 15944 — New Florence
- 15949 — Robinson
- 15954 — Seward
- 15961 — Vintondale
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Highridge Water Authority (PA5650069) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Highridge Water Authority water safe to drink?
Highridge Water Authority has recorded 2 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 Highridge Water Authority serve?
Highridge Water Authority serves approximately 16,000 people across 22 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.
Where does Highridge Water Authority get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from Highridge Water Authority Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: Highridge Water Authority Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
The greatest potential threats to Highridge’s water supply sources are accidents and spills along the roadways within the assessment area; potential contamination from residential wastewater; nonpoint-source contamination from farming; pesticide/herbicide activities, logging, and road de-icing; and leaks or spills from underground fuel storage tanks.
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.
Watershed exposure sources reported
Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Highridge 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: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
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 →
Parts of the former Mace Springs Water Company in Bolivar and West Bolivar are mostly labeled as 'lead status unknown'. More information is available at our office and at highridgewater.org/water-quality-info/ under Water Quality information.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
Highridge Water Authority
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.
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
Highridge Water Authority (EPA ID: PA5650069) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.