What was found in Ephrata'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 6700 µg/L 67% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9205.5 µg/L — DUTCH MOBILEHOME PARK · 45 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 321.25 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1111.4 µg/L — FAIRMOUNT HOME · 483 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 177 µg/L 4.4% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 134.5 µg/L 897% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 94.46 µg/L 4.7% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 89.19 µg/L 149% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 83.285 µg/L 104% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 70 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: DUTCH MOBILEHOME PARK · 45 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 65.61 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 28.95 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 26.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 13.605 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 9.45 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.2965 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 4.325 µg/L 4.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.611 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4 µg/L — FAIRMOUNT HOME · 483 people · 2018 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.01 µg/L 6% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.9000 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.7000 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: FAIRMOUNT HOME · 483 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.6700 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.2000 µg/L 0.4% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0069 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0063 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0058 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0015 mg/L 10% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0048 mg/L — DUTCH MOBILEHOME PARK · 45 people · 1996 | 3/3 | LCR |
| PFOS | 0.0046 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2025 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0036 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY · 24,500 people · 2025 | 1/3 | 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 95th percentile of the
system's samples — 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 Ephrata
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| EPHRATA AREA JOINT AUTHORITY | 24,500 |
| FAIRMOUNT HOME | 483 |
| DUTCH MOBILEHOME PARK | 45 |
Frequently asked questions about Ephrata tap water
Is Ephrata tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 30 contaminants in the water serving Ephrata. 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 Ephrata?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Ephrata, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Ephrata's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Ephrata include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Lead, Barium. 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.