What was found in Scranton'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 2827 µg/L 217% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 1300 µg/L | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 2440 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 760 µg/L 5067% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 15 µg/L | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 600 µg/L 30% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L | 7/12 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 131.6 µg/L 165% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 80 µg/L | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 119.2 µg/L No EPA limit set | 11/12 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 110 µg/L 2.8% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 66.5 µg/L 111% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 60 µg/L | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 49.2 µg/L 70% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 28.8 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/12 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 24.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 7/12 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 16.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 16.3 µg/L 326% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 µg/L | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 12.7 µg/L No EPA limit set | 12/12 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 11.9 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 11.8 µg/L 118% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 10 µg/L | 3/12 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 11 µg/L 220% of the EPA limit, in the worst sample — 5 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 8.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 5/12 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 7.4 µg/L 7.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 4.5 µg/L 75% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 4.1 µg/L No EPA limit set | 2/12 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 3.5611 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L | 5/12 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 2.6 µg/L 0.3% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.3 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 1.5 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Diquat | 0.8000 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 20 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Dinoseb | 0.4000 µg/L 5.7% of the EPA limit 7 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.1530 µg/L 7.7% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.1100 µg/L 5.5% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0558 mg/L 372% above the EPA limit of 0.0150 mg/L | 12/12 | LCR |
| Pentachlorophenol | 0.0400 µg/L 4% of the EPA limit 1 µg/L | 1/12 | SYR4 |
| Pfba | 0.0126 µg/L No EPA limit set | 1/12 | UCMR-5 |
Water suppliers serving Scranton
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| PAW CEASETOWN | 58,467 |
| PAW NESBITT | 52,640 |
| PAW WATRES | 52,002 |
| PAW HUNTSVILLE | 11,987 |
| PAW CRYSTAL LAKE | 9,773 |
| PA AMER WATER CO INDIAN ROCKS | 1,100 |
| PA AMER WATER CO SPANGENBERG | 370 |
| PA AMER WATER CO OLWEN HEIGHTS | 330 |
| PA AMER WATER THOMPSON | 225 |
| PAW SUTTON HILLS | 195 |
| PAW HILLCREST | 125 |
| PAW HOMESITE | 69 |
Frequently asked questions about Scranton tap water
Is Scranton tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 33 contaminants in the water serving Scranton. 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 Scranton?
12 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Scranton, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Scranton's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Scranton include Copper, Nitrate, Lead, Barium, TTHM. 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.