What was found in Lancaster'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 | 13000 µg/L 130% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10000 µg/L | 9/12 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 3800 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 3/12 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 2620 µg/L 202% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 8/12 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 161 µg/L 201% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 10/12 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 148 µg/L 7.4% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 6/12 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 136 µg/L No EPA limit set | 8/12 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 106 µg/L 177% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 8/12 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 57.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/12 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 49 µg/L 327% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 8/12 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 38.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 8/12 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 34.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/12 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 28.69591 µg/L 96% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 9.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 8/12 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 6.1 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 3/12 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 5.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 5 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4.6 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L | 3/12 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 4.1 µg/L 68% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.7 µg/L 3.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 6/12 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.6 µg/L 7.2% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 3.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 6/12 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.51 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/12 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 1 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.8000 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| 1,1,2-Trichloroethane | 0.5000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Combined Radium (-226 And -228) | 0.3000 pCi/L 6% of the EPA limit 5 pCi/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.2874 µg/L 9.6% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.1498 mg/L 999% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L | 10/12 | LCR |
| Beryllium, Total | 0.0700 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0288 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0238 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0223 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0154 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0098 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0081 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
Water suppliers serving Lancaster
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF LANCASTER | 120,000 |
| TAMARACK & SPREAD EAGLE MHP | 300 |
| CONOWINGO MOBILE HOME PARK | 250 |
| HAWK VALLEY VILLAGE | 250 |
| COUNTRY GARDENS TRAILER COURT | 180 |
| ROLLING HILLS MHP | 150 |
| VILLAGE AT SAFE HARBOR | 120 |
| DEVON CREEK DEVELOPMENT | 100 |
| COCHRANVILLE MHP | 99 |
| GROFFDALE MOBILEHOME PARK | 98 |
| MAYBELLE MANOR MOBILE HOME PARK | 50 |
| O YES APTS | 35 |
Frequently asked questions about Lancaster tap water
Is Lancaster tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 35 contaminants in the water serving Lancaster. 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 Lancaster?
12 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Lancaster, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Lancaster's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Lancaster include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, TTHM, Barium. 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.