What was found in Newtown'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 | 4500 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 1400 µg/L 108% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 479 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 364 µg/L 2427% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 360 µg/L 9% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 95 µg/L 119% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 74.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 57.3 µg/L 96% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 31 µg/L 310% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 30 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 21 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 10 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 8.9 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 8.88487 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 8.6 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 6.7 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 5.4 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.4 µg/L No EPA limit set | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.32 µg/L No EPA limit set | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.7500 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.2700 µg/L 4.5% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.1208 mg/L 805% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L | 3/4 | LCR |
| Cadmium | 0.0700 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.0250 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE | 0.0200 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Ethylene Dibromide | 0.0200 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 0.0500 µg/L | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| PFOA | 0.0123 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0079 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0070 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0040 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
Water suppliers serving Newtown
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO | 38,500 |
| TWP OF UPPER MAKEFIELD | 1,800 |
| BUCKINGHAM VLY REHAB & NURSING | 190 |
| UPPER MAKEFIELD ENCLAVE | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Newtown tap water
Is Newtown tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 32 contaminants in the water serving Newtown. 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 Newtown?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Newtown, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Newtown's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Newtown include Nitrate, Copper, Barium, Lead, Fluoride. 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.