What was found in Allentown's water
The highest level seen across the city's suppliers, the EPA limit for each, and where the figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 8680 µg/L 87% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 13/18 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 2170 µg/L 167% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 18/18 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 700 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 4/18 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 520 µg/L 52% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 2/18 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 419 µg/L 2793% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 17/18 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 210 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 12/18 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 105 µg/L 131% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 18/18 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 77 µg/L 128% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 16/18 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 66.7 µg/L No EPA limit set | 18/18 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 38 µg/L No EPA limit set | 15/18 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 35 µg/L No EPA limit set | 14/18 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 31.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 17/18 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 23.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 16/18 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 10.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 13/18 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 5.811 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 3/18 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 4.58 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 4 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 2/18 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.7 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 7/18 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 3 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 5/18 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 10/18 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 2.98 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/18 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 2 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 1.8 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 1.7 µg/L 34% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 1.1 µg/L 0.6% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.1 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 1 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Benzene | 0.9000 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.7000 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 3/18 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.7000 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.4000 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.3000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.2000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 2/18 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.1108 mg/L 739% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L | 15/18 | LCR |
| Thallium, Total | 0.0300 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/18 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0101 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/18 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0064 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/18 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0045 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/18 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0044 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/18 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0038 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/18 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0031 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/18 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the single worst sample on
record — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Allentown
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION | 118,000 |
| LCA WLSA CENTRAL DIVISION | 47,693 |
| SWT MAIN SYSTEM | 14,500 |
| SALISBURY TWP WATER SYSTEM | 8,522 |
| LCA NORTH WHITEHALL DIVISION | 2,910 |
| LCA ARCADIA WEST DIVISION | 1,392 |
| SWT ALLENTOWN CONS SYSTEM | 1,300 |
| LCA EMMAUS CONSECUTIVE DIV | 1,046 |
| LCA WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP DIV | 965 |
| HANOVER TOWNSHIP LEHIGH COUNTY | 520 |
| LCA HEIDELBERG HEIGHTS DIV | 509 |
| LCA MADISON NORTH DIVISION | 290 |
| LCA UPPER MILFORD CENTRAL DIV | 256 |
| LCA CLEARVIEW FARM ESTATES DIV | 170 |
| LCA PINE LAKES DIVISION | 158 |
| LCA BEVERLY HILLS DIVISION | 122 |
| GILLETT MHC | 100 |
| LCA MILL CREEK DIVISION | 88 |
Frequently asked questions about Allentown tap water
Is Allentown tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 42 contaminants in the water serving Allentown. 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 Allentown?
18 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Allentown, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Allentown's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Allentown include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Nitrite, Lead. The full list, with the highest level found 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.