Drinking water quality · 2024
· Verified
What's in Allentown, PA tap water
26 contaminants were measured in the Allentown, PA water system's 2024 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 1 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2024
- Contaminants measured
- 26
- Over federal limit
- 1
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- pH
- Service area
- PA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
1 PFAS compound above EPA limits in Allentown, PA
The EPA finalized the first-ever federal drinking-water limits for six PFAS compounds in April 2024. These numbers come straight from EPA's UCMR5 lab dataset — every U.S. system serving more than 3,300 people tested every PFAS sample at an entry point to its distribution system. PFAS not listed below were either tested and not detected, or not yet sampled.
PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.1×)below national p90 (19.900000000000006 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)near national p90 (12.190000000000003 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (15.95999999999999 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)below national p90 (13.909999999999979 ng/L across detecting U.S. systems)
Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Allentown, PA's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 4 sources.
Source
- LITTLE LEHIGH CREEK
- CRYSTAL SPRING
- SCHANTZ SPRING
- LEHIGH RIVER
Treatment
- ALLENTOWN WTP
- CRYSTAL SPRING TRMT
- SCHANTZ SPRING TRMT
- + 2 more
Distribution
Historical readings · EPA Six-Year Review (2012–2019)
1 contaminant historically over EPA limits in Allentown, PA
Every U.S. public water system reports compliance-monitoring data to EPA. The Six-Year Review releases the 2012–2019 window as a single dataset — here's what your system reported, year by year. Values shown are the highest detection per analyte per year, compared to the federal MCL.
| Contaminant | Worst detection | EPA limit | Years (2012–2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
TTHM worst: 2015 | 0.105 mg/L 1.3× | 0.08 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
PCE worst: 2013 | 0.00298 mg/L within | 0.005 mg/L | '12'13'14'15 |
HAA5 worst: 2017 | 0.0311 mg/L within | 0.06 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
NITRATE worst: 2017 | 4.78 mg/L within | 10 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLORINE FREE worst: 2018 | 1.41 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '18'19 |
FLUORIDE worst: 2015 | 0.6 mg/L within | 4 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
MERCURY worst: 2012 | 0.0002 mg/L within | 0.002 mg/L | '12 |
SELENIUM worst: 2013 | 0.004 mg/L within | 0.05 mg/L | '12'13 |
ARSENIC worst: 2013 | 0.00077 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.01 mg/L | '13 |
CHROMIUM worst: 2012 | 0.0037 mg/L within below national p90 | 0.1 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BARIUM worst: 2016 | 0.038 mg/L within below national p90 | 2 mg/L | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
COPPER worst: 2013 | 0.56 mg/L near national p90 | — | '13'16'19 |
LEAD worst: 2013 | 0.0239 mg/L | — | '13'16'19 |
DBAA worst: 2018 | 0.00177 mg/L | — | '18'19 |
DCAA worst: 2018 | 0.00387 mg/L | — | '18'19 |
TCAA worst: 2018 | 0.00756 mg/L | — | '18'19 |
BROMODICHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0185 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
BROMOFORM worst: 2012 | 0.00286 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
CHLOROFORM worst: 2012 | 0.0405 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
DIBROMOCHLOROMETHANE worst: 2012 | 0.0118 mg/L | — | '12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19 |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 7.66AverageSystem-wide | 6.5MCL | At or above the limit |
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 412.5 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 500 mg/LMCL | Approaching the limit |
| AlkalinityA measure of the water's capacity to neutralize acids. | 173 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| HardnessA measure of dissolved calcium and magnesium minerals. | 15AverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| TurbidityA measure of cloudiness from suspended particles in the water. | 0.097 NTUReported levelLCA's Water Test Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| TetrachloroethyleneAn industrial solvent (PCE) used in dry cleaning and degreasing. | 2.9 ug/LReported levelLCA's Water Test Results | 5 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— LCA's Water Test Results, of LCA's Test Results
| |||
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOAPerfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. | 6.08 ng/LReported levelLCA's Water Test Results | 14 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— LCA's Water Test Results, of LCA's Test Results
| |||
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 0.77 ng/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos | 0.17 MFLReported levelLCA's Water Test Results | 7 MFLMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— LCA's Water Test Results, of LCA's Test Results
| |||
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium, TotalTotal chromium — the sum of all chromium forms, from natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 1 ug/LReported levelLCA's Water Test Results | 100 ug/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— LCA's Water Test Results, of LCA's Test Results
| |||
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | Not detected mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 0.3 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| ManganeseA naturally occurring metal from soil and rock. | Not detected mg/LAverageSystem-wide | 0.05 mg/LMCL | None detected |
| CalciumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 67.9 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| MagnesiumA naturally occurring mineral that contributes to water hardness. | 29.1 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
| SodiumA naturally occurring salt component. | 50.8 mg/LAverageSystem-wide | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Disinfectants
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChlorineA disinfectant added to drinking water to kill bacteria and viruses. | 0.27–1.22 mg/LRangeof LCA's Test Results | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (2)— of LCA's Test Results, LCA's Water Test Results
| |||
People also ask about Allentown, PA's water
+Is Allentown, PA tap water safe to drink in 2024?
The 2024 Consumer Confidence Report for the Allentown, PA water utility lists 1 contaminant at or above the federal limit: pH. Whether that means the water is "unsafe" depends on which contaminant, how long the exposure, and individual health factors. The table on this page shows the measured value, the federal threshold, and the regulated statistic used for compliance.
+What contaminants are in Allentown, PA tap water?
26 contaminants were measured in Allentown, PA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning metals, physical & aggregate, and pfas ("forever chemicals"). 17 have an enforceable federal limit; the rest are detected but unregulated. Every measured value, in the utility's own units, is on this page.
+Which contaminants exceed federal limits in Allentown, PA tap water?
One contaminant in Allentown, PA's 2024 report sits at or above the federal limit: pH (1.2× the limit). The EPA enforces these limits against the regulated reporting statistic — typically a running annual average or 90th percentile — not a one-off sample spike.
+What is the worst contaminant in Allentown, PA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2024 report is pH, at 1.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the physical & aggregate family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Allentown, PA tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: Total Dissolved Solids. Approaching means measured but not in violation — a margin that can close quickly if conditions change.
+Where does the data on this page come from?
Every value is transcribed from Allentown, PA's 2024 Consumer Confidence Report — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. public water utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived and viewable on this site. A water-quality report covers an entire service area, not a single address.
+How often is Allentown, PA's water quality data updated?
Each U.S. public water utility publishes one Consumer Confidence Report per year, covering the prior calendar year's measurements. This page reflects the 2024 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.