What was found in New Castle'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 | 1050 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6050 µg/L — MAJORS MOBILEHOME PARK · 55 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 683 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 665.5 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK · 95 people · 2018 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 413.25 µg/L 32% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 485.65 µg/L — PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY · 17,200 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 73.675 µg/L 92% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 46.03 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 27.85 µg/L 46% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 28.56 µg/L — PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY · 17,200 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 22.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 5.04 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 15.905 µg/L — PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY · 17,200 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 13.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY · 17,200 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 11.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: EASTBROOK APARTMENTS · 75 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 8.94 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10.92 µg/L — PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY · 17,200 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 10 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK · 95 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 9.05 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 3.7 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 8 µg/L — PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY · 17,200 people · 2019 | 7/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2.853 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK · 95 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 2.7 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: CEDAR ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK · 95 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.27 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.3000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Highest in the city: PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY · 17,200 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| PFBS | 0.0231 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY · 17,200 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0085 µg/L — PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY · 17,200 people · 2024 | 2/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0031 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0058 µg/L — PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY · 17,200 people · 2024 | 2/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0030 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0055 µg/L — PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY · 17,200 people · 2024 | 2/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0020 mg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE · 43,279 people · 2025 | 6/7 | 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 New Castle
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PA AMER WATER CO NEW CASTLE | 43,279 |
| PA AMER WATER CO ELLWOOD CTY | 17,200 |
| CEDAR ACRES MOBILE HOME PARK | 95 |
| EASTBROOK APARTMENTS | 75 |
| WOODMERE ESTATES | 61 |
| COUNTRY ROADS MHP | 60 |
| MAJORS MOBILEHOME PARK | 55 |
Frequently asked questions about New Castle tap water
Is New Castle tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving New Castle. 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 New Castle?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for New Castle, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in New Castle's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in New Castle include Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium, Copper, TTHM. 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.