Pennsylvania
PFAS water filters in Pennsylvania
What Pennsylvania's rules say, what local utilities found, and how to cut PFAS at your tap.
The rules in Pennsylvania
- State limits: PFOA 14 ppt and PFOS 18 ppt, effective January 14, 2023[1].
- Federal limits: PFOA and PFOS 4.0 ppt, with compliance by April 26, 2029; EPA has proposed an optional extension to 2031 that isn't final[2][3].
- Private wells: Pennsylvania doesn't regulate private wells, so PFAS testing is up to you[4]. See well water testing.
PFAS results for utilities we serve
| Utility | Max PFOA | Max PFOS | PFAS types found |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia Water Department | 8.1 ppt ▲ | 6 ppt ▲ | 8 |
| Aqua Pennsylvania (Main System) | 12.6 ppt ▲ | 9.2 ppt ▲ | 9 |
| Chester Water Authority | 5.1 ppt ▲ | Not detected | 4 |
| North Penn Water Authority | 5.1 ppt ▲ | Not detected | 3 |
| Pennsylvania American Water (Norristown) | Not detected | Not detected | 4 |
| North Wales Water Authority | 13 ppt ▲ | 11.1 ppt ▲ | 9 |
| Pennsylvania American Water (Royersford) | 9.1 ppt ▲ | 10.7 ppt ▲ | 8 |
| Aqua Pennsylvania (West Chester) | 5.9 ppt ▲ | Not detected | 5 |
| Newtown Artesian Water Company | 12.3 ppt ▲ | 7.9 ppt ▲ | 6 |
| Pennsylvania American Water (Coatesville) | Not detected | Not detected | 2 |
| Aqua Pennsylvania (Uwchlan) | 9.3 ppt ▲ | 7.1 ppt ▲ | 6 |
| Pennsylvania American Water (Yardley) | 9.7 ppt ▲ | 6.1 ppt ▲ | 7 |
| Falls Township Water & Sewer | Not detected | Not detected | 2 |
| Phoenixville Water Department | 5.9 ppt ▲ | 5.1 ppt ▲ | 7 |
| Downingtown Municipal Water Authority | 4.2 ppt ▲ | Not detected | 4 |
| Doylestown Township Municipal Authority (DTMA) | 14.2 ppt ▲ | 13.4 ppt ▲ | 8 |
| Collegeville-Trappe Joint Public Works | 235 ppt ▲ | 15 ppt ▲ | 8 |
| Kennett Square Municipal Water Works | 17.7 ppt ▲ | 14.4 ppt ▲ | 8 |
EPA UCMR 5 sampling, 2023–2025, for utilities serving the ZIPs we cover[5]. ▲ = at or above the 4.0 ppt federal limit[2]. Results are maximums from the sampling period, not what's in your tap today; utilities may have added treatment since.
How to reduce PFAS at home
- Know your numbers. Read your utility's results, or test a well with a certified lab.
- Drinking water first. A reverse osmosis system certified under NSF/ANSI 58 at the kitchen sink[6]. See reverse osmosis.
- Every tap? We don't currently install whole-house PFAS treatment; most exposure is from drinking and cooking water.
- Keep it working. Change media on schedule and retest.
Compare options: tankless vs. tank RO. What drives price: PFAS filter cost. Background: PFAS explained.
Where we install in Pennsylvania
Free water report
Look up PFAS for your PA ZIP
Look up what your local water utility has reported to the EPA, then take a 60-second quiz about what you see, taste, and smell at home. We'll use both to recommend the right solution.
Get your water report
Enter your ZIP code to see your utility's violations, lead testing, and PFAS results from public EPA records, explained in plain English.
Data comes from U.S. EPA and Census public records. It covers public water systems, not private wells, and it isn't a test of your home's tap. If you're on a well, a free in-home test is the best way to know what's in your water.
Hard water
Hard water has a lot of dissolved calcium and magnesium. It leaves scale on fixtures and in water heaters, spots on dishes, and makes soap lather poorly.
Chlorine & chloramine
Utilities add these to kill germs. They keep water safe on its way to you, but many people dislike the taste and smell.
Lead
Lead usually gets into water from old service lines, pipes, solder, and fixtures. The U.S. banned lead pipes and lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986.
PFAS
PFAS are long-lasting "forever chemicals" found in many water supplies. In 2024 the EPA set the first national drinking-water limits for several of them.
Step 2
Your recommended solution
Based on your water report and quiz answers.
Common questions
Does my PA tap water have PFAS?
Check the table on this page or your utility's annual water quality report. For an exact answer at your tap, run the free water report for your ZIP.
What removes PFAS from drinking water?
Reverse osmosis, granular activated carbon, and ion exchange can all reduce PFAS; we use reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification for the PFAS you need to reduce.
Do I need a whole-house PFAS system?
Most exposure is from drinking and cooking water, so we treat PFAS with reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink. We don't currently install whole-house PFAS treatment.
Know your PFAS numbers. Then fix them.
Sources
- PA DEP: PFAS MCL rule. www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/programs-and-services/water/bureau-of-safe-drinking-water/drinking-water-management/drinking-water-regulations/pfas-mcl-rule
- U.S. EPA: Proposed PFOA and PFOS compliance extension rule. www.epa.gov/sdwa/proposed-pfoa-and-pfos-compliance-extension-rule
- Federal Register 2026-10086 (May 20, 2026). www.federalregister.gov/d/2026-10086
- PA DEP: Private wells. www.pa.gov/agencies/dep/residents/my-water/private-wells
- U.S. EPA: UCMR occurrence data. www.epa.gov/dwucmr/occurrence-data-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule
- NJ Department of Health: PFAS and private wells in New Jersey (July 2025). www.nj.gov/health/ceohs/documents/pfas_well_water.pdf
- NJDEP: Private well treatment. dep.nj.gov/privatewells/treatment/
EPA records retrieved Oct 2026 from the EPA SDWIS and UCMR 5 public datasets. Utility records describe a water system, not the tap in your home. Records can lag and may be incomplete.