Health Violations Found PA 2 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Mercersburg Muni Water Authority

EPA ID: PA7280021 · 2,350 people served · 5 ZIP codes

5 open EPA findings remain on record at Mercersburg Muni Water Authority — the utility supplies approximately 2,350 people.

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

D · 51
Avg Safety Score
2,350
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
46
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
10
Contaminants Flagged
$256K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 5 (2021) to 1 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Mercersburg Muni Water Authority Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade D

Service Area Demographics

$84,160
Median Household Income
35,231
Service Area Population
11%
Disadvantaged Population
50th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
63%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Mercersburg Muni Water Authority serves a community with a median household income of $84,160 and an estimated 35,231 residents across its service area. Approximately 63% 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

Mercersburg Muni 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.

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

57 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
12 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 83% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Mercersburg Muni Water Authority compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 1 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects

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.

Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 12 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 0700 at 9 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Lead and Copper Rule at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

E. coli at 6 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.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 5 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 →

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

0 violations
C 12 violations
C 7 violations
Reynolds Water Company
2,370 people
B 8 violations
Aqua Pa Factoryville
2,323 people
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 $960
PFAS Treatment $500
Water Filtration $60
Total Estimated Cost $2,720

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 $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,665
10 years
$15,330
20 years
$30,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,720 (one-time) vs. $15,330 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

MERCERSBURG MUNI WATER AUTH (EPA ID: PA7280021) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 2,350 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 5 ZIP codes across 5 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

2 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 5 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
July 11, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
June 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Unresolved
April 1, 2025 Chlorite Monitoring Unresolved
February 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2025 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2025 Chlorite Monitoring Unresolved
January 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2025 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
January 1, 2025 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Resolved
August 1, 2024 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Resolved
August 1, 2024 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
July 11, 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved
June 1, 2024 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
June 1, 2024 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
March 1, 2024 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2024 Revised Total Coliform Rule Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2024 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2024 E. coli Monitoring Resolved
February 1, 2024 Fecal Coliform 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 12 Yes
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 9 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 6 No
E. coli Microbiological 6 Yes
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 5 No
Chlorite Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Total Organic Carbon Disinfection Byproducts 2 No
Fecal Coliform Microbiological 2 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Radium-228 Radionuclides 1 No

Health Risk Details

E. coli (EPA limit: Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action))

Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children At-risk groups: children under 5, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women.

Removal methods: UV disinfection (99.99%), chlorination, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

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: 4 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Mercersburg Muni Water Authority (PA7280021) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Mercersburg Muni Water Authority water safe to drink?

Mercersburg Muni 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 Mercersburg Muni Water Authority serve?

Mercersburg Muni Water Authority serves approximately 2,350 people across 5 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.

Where does Mercersburg Muni Water Authority get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
3
Unknown Material
990
Confirmed Non-Lead

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.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2013-06-01 exceeded the federal lead action level (0.015 mg/L).
Population served: 2,350
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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Mercersburg Muni Water Authority safe to drink?
Mercersburg Muni Water Authority has a D safety grade based on 46 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Mercersburg Muni Water Authority's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Consumer Confidence Report Rule, Contaminant 0700, Lead and Copper Rule. 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 Mercersburg Muni Water Authority serve?
Mercersburg Muni Water Authority serves approximately 2,350 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is Mercersburg Muni Water Authority's water source?
Mercersburg Muni Water Authority draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Mercersburg Muni Water Authority's service area?
The Mercersburg Muni Water Authority service area has a median household income of $84,160. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Mercersburg Muni Water Authority get its water?
Mercersburg Muni 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. 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

Mercersburg Muni Water Authority (EPA ID: PA7280021) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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