Health Violations Found PA 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Chambersburg Boro Water Sys

EPA ID: PA7280005 · 31,048 people served · 6 ZIP codes

Not yet resolved: 1 EPA violation at Chambersburg Boro Water Sys, affecting about 31,048 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 58
Avg Safety Score
31,048
People Served
6
ZIP Codes Served
10
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.00569 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
8
Contaminants Flagged
$243K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 1 (2021) to 1 (2024). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Chambersburg Boro Water Sys Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$74,529
Median Household Income
76,077
Service Area Population
11%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
73%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Chambersburg Boro Water Sys serves a community with a median household income of $74,529 and an estimated 76,077 residents across its service area. Approximately 73% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Chambersburg Boro Water Sys'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.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
30th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
60th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Franklin 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 60th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites.

Infrastructure Risk

56 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
13 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 81% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Chambersburg Boro Water Sys compares to EPA limits

Atrazine 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.003 mg/L
Endocrine disruption, cardiovascular & reproductive effects
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects
Chlorite 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 1 mg/L
Anemia and nervous system effects in infants and children

What This Means For You

Atrazine at 1 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 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Chlorite at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 1 mg/L. Anemia and nervous system effects in infants and children. Consider ferrous sulfate reduction filtration.

Contaminant 0700 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Lead and Copper Rule at 1 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. 3 detections recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.014 ppt, PFOS: 0.018 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Atrazine 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

D 6 violations
Pa American White Deer
30,209 people
D 27 violations
Latrobe Muni Authority
30,000 people
C 7 violations
D 29 violations
D 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $250
Water Filtration $100
Total Estimated Cost $2,750

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,000

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$5,165
10 years
$10,330
20 years
$20,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,750 (one-time) vs. $10,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Chambersburg Boro Water Sys (EPA ID: PA7280005) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 31,048 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 6 ZIP codes across 5 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

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. 1 remains unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
May 1, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2024 Chlorite Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2024 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2024 Atrazine Monitoring Unresolved
January 1, 2023 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2023 Chlorite Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2023 Nickel Health-based Resolved
January 1, 2023 Nickel Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2023 Copper Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Nickel Inorganic 2 Yes
Chlorite Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 2 No
Copper Inorganic 1 No
Atrazine Organic 1 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
E. coli Microbiological 1 No

Health Risk Details

Fluoride (EPA limit: 4 mg/L (secondary standard: 2.0 mg/L))

Tooth & bone damage at high levels At-risk groups: children under 8 during tooth development, elderly with compromised bone density, people with kidney disease.

Removal methods: reverse osmosis, activated alumina, distillation. 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
17201 0.00569 mg/L No N/A
17202 0.00569 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 Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 3 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 3 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Chambersburg Boro Water Sys (PA7280005) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Chambersburg Boro Water Sys water safe to drink?

Chambersburg Boro Water Sys 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 Chambersburg Boro Water Sys serve?

Chambersburg Boro Water Sys serves approximately 31,048 people across 6 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.

Where does Chambersburg Boro Water Sys 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.

Phone
(717) 352-7450
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.
Address
7659 Lincoln Way East, Fayetteville, PA 17222

Contact information from Borough of Chambersburg Water Department 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
Surface water
Drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs.
Disinfectant used
Chlorine
Treatment chemicals reported
sodium hydroxidepoly-aluminum blendsodium bicarbonatefluorideorthophosphate

Source: Borough of Chambersburg Water Department Consumer Confidence Report.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.

Source water assessment from Borough of Chambersburg Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
Few potential contamination sites exist; however, the few that do exist pose a moderately high risk, mainly the Route 233 transportation corridor and associated residential activities along it.

Treatment regime

How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.

Treatment classification
Multi-stage
Multiple treatment stages — typically coagulation, filtration, and disinfection. Common for surface-water systems requiring removal of particulates, microorganisms, and dissolved organic compounds before disinfection.

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.

pH adjustment
Raises or lowers water acidity to protect pipes and improve treatment performance.
sodium hydroxide
Corrosion inhibitor
Coats pipe interiors to reduce lead and copper leaching from premise plumbing.
orthophosphate
Fluoridation
Added at low levels per state or local public-health policy for dental health.
fluoride
Other reported chemicals
Reported by the utility but not in our annotation dictionary.
poly-aluminum blendsodium bicarbonate

Watershed exposure sources reported

Land-use and natural conditions identified in the utility's source-water assessment as potential contamination sources upstream of treatment.

Transportation corridorResidential activities

Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from Borough of Chambersburg Water Department 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.

Samples collected
116

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 →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead service line replacement plan from Borough of Chambersburg Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
Completed a lead service line replacement project to remove lead goosenecks from customers' water service lines funded by a $3.3M PennVEST grant

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.

Get notified on replacement progress

Subscribers receive an email when this utility updates its LSL plan, files a milestone report, or adjusts replacement timelines. No marketing, no third-party sharing.

By submitting you agree to Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime via the link in any email.

Borough of Chambersburg Water Department

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:

0
Confirmed Lead
38
Galvanized — Replacement Required
1,949
Unknown Material
6,229
Confirmed Non-Lead

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-06-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 31,048
Reported to Pennsylvania

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

Notable events and violations

This section summarizes events the utility chose to disclose in its most recent Consumer Confidence Report, plus any federal compliance violations the utility recorded against itself. Both lists are utility-authored — ZipCheckup does not audit, judge, or reorder them.

Federal compliance violations on record

These entries are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR violations section. EPA defines four broad violation categories: Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), Treatment Technique (TT), Monitoring & Reporting (M&R), and Public Notification (PN).

  • MCL · Fluoride
    2023
    Fluoride MCL exceedance and a subsequent failure to provide a check sample within a specified amount of time for a routine annual sample collected and analyzed in February 2023.

Violations record from Borough of Chambersburg Water Department Consumer Confidence Report.

Notable events from the utility's CCR

These bullet entries are the utility's own narration of operational, regulatory, or infrastructure events during the reporting period.

Notable events from Borough of Chambersburg Water Department Consumer Confidence Report:
  • Completed a lead service line replacement project to remove lead goosenecks from customers' water service lines funded by a $3.3M PennVEST grant

ZipCheckup note: items above reflect what the utility published in its most recent CCR. Federal violation records are also tracked separately by the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) — the SDWIS record is the authoritative federal source for any specific regulatory action.

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

Is water from Chambersburg Boro Water Sys safe to drink?
Chambersburg Boro Water Sys has a C safety grade based on 10 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Chambersburg Boro Water Sys's water?
Detected contaminants include Atrazine, Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Chlorite, Contaminant 0700. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Chambersburg Boro Water Sys serve?
Chambersburg Boro Water Sys serves approximately 31,048 people with drinking water across 6 ZIP codes.
What is Chambersburg Boro Water Sys's water source?
Chambersburg Boro Water Sys draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Chambersburg Boro Water Sys's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00569 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Chambersburg Boro Water Sys's service area?
The Chambersburg Boro Water Sys service area has a median household income of $74,529. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Chambersburg Boro Water Sys get its water?
Chambersburg Boro Water Sys'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. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Chambersburg Boro Water Sys (EPA ID: PA7280005) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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