What was found in Philadelphia's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 598.7999999999996 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2017 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 71.26499999999999 µg/L 89% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 60.495 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 47 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2024 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 44.629999999999995 µg/L 74% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 26.084999999999997 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 16.709999999999994 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 13.079999999999998 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 9.1685 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 5.3 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2017 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 4.639500000000003 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3.368 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.001 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2019 | 1/1 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0110 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2024 | 1/1 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0029 mg/L 19% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 · 4,900 people · 2025 | 1/1 | LCR |
Water suppliers serving Philadelphia
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| MARION COUNTY PWSD 1 | 4,900 |
Frequently asked questions about Philadelphia tap water
Is Philadelphia tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 15 contaminants in the water serving Philadelphia. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Philadelphia?
1 public water supplier report drinking-water monitoring for Philadelphia, Missouri to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Philadelphia's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Philadelphia include Copper, TTHM, Chloroform, Lithium, Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5). The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.