Bradford City Water Authority
EPA ID: PA6420014 · 18,500 people served · 8 ZIP codes
Right now, Bradford City Water Authority shows 19 EPA violations marked active and unresolved — the provider continues to supply approximately 18,500 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 6 (2023) to 8 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Bradford City Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Bradford City Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $71,748 and an estimated 23,793 residents across its service area. Approximately 83% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
Environmental Justice Note: 33% 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?
Bradford 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 McKean 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 Bradford City Water Authority compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Lead and Copper Rule at 49 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Contaminant 0700 at 47 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
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.
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.
Surface Water Treatment Rule at 6 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
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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
Bradford City Water Authority (EPA ID: PA6420014) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 18,500 people from surface water sources.
This system provides water to 8 ZIP codes across 8 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (58/100)
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 | Unresolved |
| July 11, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2025 | Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| April 1, 2025 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Revised Total Coliform Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| April 1, 2025 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Unresolved |
| March 1, 2025 | Fecal Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 11, 2025 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 13, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 11, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| November 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Surface Water Treatment Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| October 1, 2024 | Gross Alpha | Monitoring | Unresolved |
| September 13, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Contaminant 0700 | Health-based | Resolved |
| August 13, 2024 | Lead and Copper Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Failure | 49 | No |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other Violation | 47 | Yes |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Failure | 6 | No |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 3 | Yes |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Total Organic Carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 1 | No |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 1 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | Yes |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
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: 7 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
- 16701 — Bradford
- 16725 — Custer City
- 16726 — Cyclone
- 16727 — Derrick City
- 16732 — Gifford
- 16738 — Lewis Run
- 16744 — Rew
- 16749 — Smethport
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Bradford City Water Authority (PA6420014) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bradford City Water Authority water safe to drink?
Bradford City Water Authority has recorded 33 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 Bradford City Water Authority serve?
Bradford City Water Authority serves approximately 18,500 people across 8 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.
Where does Bradford City Water 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 BRADFORD CITY 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: 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:
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.
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
Bradford City Water Authority (EPA ID: PA6420014) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.