Drinking Water

PFAS-Contaminated Drinking Water in Pennsylvania

More than 100 Pennsylvania public water systems have detected PFAS in source water under the EPA’s Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. The PA Department of Environmental Protection has confirmed PFAS detections in dozens of counties.

EPA enforceable limits (2024)

In April 2024, the U.S. EPA finalized the first-ever national drinking water standards for PFAS. The Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) are 4 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS individually. PA water systems must achieve compliance by 2029. Many PA systems already exceed these limits.

Heavily impacted PA water systems

  • Warminster Municipal Authority — multiple wells closed or treated.
  • Warrington Township Water & Sewer — documented contamination from former NAWC Warminster.
  • Horsham Water & Sewer Authority — wells shut down; bottled water distributed.
  • Hatboro Borough Water Department — PFAS detections in distribution.
  • Aqua Pennsylvania & Pennsylvania American Water — multi-county PFAS detections, especially in Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties.
  • Philadelphia Water Department — detections in Schuylkill and Delaware River source water.
  • Capital Region Water (Harrisburg) & Dauphin County systems — tied to Harrisburg International Airport AFFF use.
  • Chambersburg-area systems — tied to Letterkenny Army Depot.
  • Private wells across Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Franklin, Lancaster, and Berks counties.

If you used contaminated water

If you drank from a Pennsylvania public water system or a private well that has been sampled and confirmed positive for PFAS — especially over a period of years — and you have since been diagnosed with kidney cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, or another linked condition, your case may qualify for review.