Erie City Water Authority
EPA ID: PA6250028 · 220,001 people served · 33 ZIP codes
Federal compliance records for Erie City Water Authority list 2 open violations that have not yet been resolved — the utility serves approximately 220,001 people, and each outstanding finding remains logged and active in the EPA enforcement database.
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 3 (2021) to 31 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Erie City Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
The Erie City Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $68,484 and an estimated 217,712 residents across its service area. Approximately 78% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 35% 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?
Erie City 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 Erie County, Pennsylvania rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 69th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Erie City Water Authority compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
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.
Contaminant 0700 at 18 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Revised Total Coliform Rule at 13 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Chlorite at 7 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 1 mg/L. Anemia and nervous system effects in infants and children. Consider ferrous sulfate reduction filtration.
Lead and Copper Rule at 5 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
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
Similar-sized systems in Pennsylvania
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
ERIE CITY WATER AUTHORITY (EPA ID: PA6250028) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 220,001 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 33 ZIP codes across 6 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (79/100)
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 1, 2025 | Stage 1 DBP Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 11, 2025 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Contaminant 2063 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Health-based | Resolved |
| March 11, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 11, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2025 | Total Organic Carbon | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2024 | Radium-228 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| May 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Resolved |
| May 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2024 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 18 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 13 | No |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 7 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 5 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | Yes |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 3 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 3 | No |
| Contaminant 2063 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Contaminant 2105 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| Total Organic Carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16501 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16502 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16503 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16504 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16505 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16506 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16507 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16508 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16509 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16510 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16511 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16512 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16514 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16515 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16522 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16530 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16531 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16532 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16533 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 16534 | 0.00108 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate 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: 19 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 14 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 33 ZIP codes:
16415 · 16421 · 16426 · 16428 · 16441 16501 · 16502 · 16503 · 16504 · 16505 16506 · 16507 · 16508 · 16509 · 16510 16511 · 16512 · 16514 · 16515 · 16522 16530 · 16531 · 16532 · 16533 · 16534 16538 · 16541 · 16544 · 16546 · 16550 16553 · 16563 · 16565
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Erie City Water Authority (PA6250028) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Erie City Water Authority water safe to drink?
Erie City Water Authority has recorded 3 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 Erie City Water Authority serve?
Erie City Water Authority serves approximately 220,001 people across 33 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.
Where does Erie City Water Authority get its water?
The primary water source is surface water.
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.
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
Erie City Water Authority (EPA ID: PA6250028) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.