What was found in Johnstown'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 | 2800 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3700 µg/L — HIGHLAND S&W AUTH NORTHERN END · 463 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 41.65 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 735.2 µg/L — HIGHLAND S & W AUTH LLOYDELL · 723 people · 2018 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 709.6 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 724.2 µg/L — GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA SALTLICK · 170 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 149.35 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 679.25 µg/L — HIGHLAND S&W AUTH NORTHERN END · 463 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 48.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 277.5 µg/L — JACKSON TWP WATER AUTH · 4,236 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 64.35 µg/L 107% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 171.5 µg/L — JACKSON TWP WATER AUTH · 4,236 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 57.745 µg/L 72% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 119.929 µg/L — JACKSON TWP WATER AUTH · 4,236 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 53.61 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 109.376 µg/L — JACKSON TWP WATER AUTH · 4,236 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 37.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 98.775 µg/L — JACKSON TWP WATER AUTH · 4,236 people · 2019 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 39.55 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 95 µg/L — JACKSON TWP WATER AUTH · 4,236 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 7.5135 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.985 µg/L — JACKSON TWP WATER AUTH · 4,236 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 6.84 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.67 µg/L — JACKSON TWP WATER AUTH · 4,236 people · 2019 | 4/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 7 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: EAST TAYLOR MUNI AUTH · 3,152 people · 2019 | 3/8 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 3.3 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: HIGHLAND S&W AUTH NORTHERN END · 463 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 2.007 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: HIGHLAND S & W AUTH BEAVERDAM · 22,617 people · 2019 | 2/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.95 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2 µg/L — SOUTHWESTERN CAMBRIA CNTY AUTH · 4,400 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 1.937 µg/L 6.5% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: HIGHLAND S&W AUTH NORTHERN END · 463 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.2700 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 0.7768 µg/L — HIGHLAND S & W AUTH BEAVERDAM · 22,617 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 0.4400 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2019 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0050 mg/L 33% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE · 49,500 people · 2025 | 6/8 | LCR |
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 Johnstown
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA RIVERSIDE | 49,500 |
| HIGHLAND S & W AUTH BEAVERDAM | 22,617 |
| SOUTHWESTERN CAMBRIA CNTY AUTH | 4,400 |
| JACKSON TWP WATER AUTH | 4,236 |
| EAST TAYLOR MUNI AUTH | 3,152 |
| HIGHLAND S & W AUTH LLOYDELL | 723 |
| HIGHLAND S&W AUTH NORTHERN END | 463 |
| GREATER JOHNSTOWN WA SALTLICK | 170 |
Frequently asked questions about Johnstown tap water
Is Johnstown tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 20 contaminants in the water serving Johnstown. 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 Johnstown?
8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Johnstown, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Johnstown's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Johnstown include Nitrate, Barium, Fluoride, Copper, Monochloroacetic Acid. 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.