Drinking water quality · 2023
· Verified
What's in Philadelphia, PA tap water
30 contaminants were measured in the Philadelphia, PA water system's 2023 annual report. Each is shown below against its federal limit — 3 sit at or above that limit.
- Reporting year
- 2023
- Contaminants measured
- 30
- Over federal limit
- 3
- Approaching the limit
- 1
- Worst contaminant
- Gross Alpha
- Service area
- PA
PFAS — EPA UCMR5 (2023–2025)
2 PFAS compounds above EPA limits in Philadelphia, 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.
PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)
● Over EPA limit (2.0×)PFOS (Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid)
● Over EPA limit (1.5×)PFNA (Perfluorononanoic acid)
● Below limitPFHxA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFPeA
● Detected (no federal limit)PFBS
● Detected (no federal limit)PFHpA
● Detected (no federal limit)Where your water comes from · EPA SDWIS
Philadelphia, PA's drinking water comes from surface water, drawn from 3 sources.
Source
- DELAWARE RIVER
- SCHUYLKILL RIVER B
- SCHUYLKILL RIVER Q
Treatment
- BAXTER
- BELMONT
- QUEEN LANE
Distribution
Compliance history
Federal Safe Drinking Water Act violation & enforcement records (EPA SDWIS). A violation is a regulatory determination by the state or EPA — separate from the measured levels above.
- Treatment technique violationHealth-based12 violations on record · most recent Nov 2010resolved
Source: EPA SDWIS / ECHO. View the full federal record on EPA ECHO ↗
Radionuclides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross AlphaGross alpha particle activity — a combined measure of alpha-emitting radioactive substances. | 228 pCi/LReported levelColumn 2 | None set | At or above the limit |
| UraniumA naturally occurring radioactive metal from erosion of natural deposits. | 226 ug/LReported levelColumn 2 | None set | At or above the limit |
Disinfection byproducts
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| HAA5Haloacetic acids — a group of five disinfection byproducts formed when disinfectants react with organic matter. | 43 ug/LRunning annual avgRunning Annual Average 2024 | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— System-Wide, Running Annual Average 2024
| |||
| TTHMTotal trihalomethanes — a group of four chemicals (including chloroform) formed when chlorine reacts with natural organic matter. | 51 ug/LRunning annual avgRunning Annual Average 2024 | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (2)— System-Wide, Running Annual Average 2024
| |||
Inorganic chemicals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| NitrateA compound from fertilizer runoff, septic systems, and erosion of natural deposits. | 4.52 mg/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | 10 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| FluorideA mineral often added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay. | 0.624 mg/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | 4 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
+By source (3)— Queen Lane WTP, Baxter WTP, Belmont WTP
| |||
| ChlorideA naturally occurring salt compound. | 61–161 mg/LRangeQueen Lane WTP | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (3)— Queen Lane WTP, Belmont WTP, Baxter WTP
| |||
| SulfateA naturally occurring mineral from rock and soil. | 18.2–62 mg/LRangeBelmont WTP | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (3)— Belmont WTP, Queen Lane WTP, Baxter WTP
| |||
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acidPerfluorohexanesulfonic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical.' | 1.9 ng/LMaximumSystem-wide | 10 ng/LMCL | Within the limit |
| Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acidHFPO-DA ('GenX chemicals'), a newer-generation PFAS replacement compound. | 0 ng/LMaximumSystem-wide | 10 ng/LMCL | None detected |
Metals
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| CopperA metal that enters water from corroding household plumbing. | 0.219 mg/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
+By source (5)— of Tap Sampling Results, Baxter WTP, Queen Lane WTP +2 more
| |||
| LeadA toxic metal that leaches into water from old service lines, solder, and plumbing fixtures. | 2 ug/L90th percentileAt the tap | None set | Within the limit |
| Antimony | 0.0006 mg/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | 0.006 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| BariumA metal from erosion of natural deposits and industrial discharge. | 0.046 mg/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | 2 mg/LMCL | Within the limit |
| IronA naturally occurring metal common in groundwater. | 0–0.023 mg/LRangeQueen Lane WTP | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (3)— Queen Lane WTP, Belmont WTP, Baxter WTP
| |||
Other
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chromium | 2 ug/LHighest single sampleSystem-wide | None set | Within the limit |
| Dichloroethane 12 | 111Reported levelColumn 3 | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
Microbial
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Escherichia coli (E. coli)Escherichia coli — bacteria found in the gut of humans and animals. | 0 %MaximumSystem-wide | 0 %MCLG | None detected |
| Total ColiformA group of bacteria used as an indicator of overall water-system sanitation. | 2.4 %MaximumSystem-wide | 0 %MCLG | Detected — no federal limit |
Physical & aggregate
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| pHA measure of how acidic or basic the water is. | 7.1–7.3RangeBelmont WTP | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (3)— Belmont WTP, Baxter WTP, Queen Lane WTP
| |||
| Total Dissolved SolidsTotal dissolved solids — the combined content of all dissolved minerals and salts. | 216–471 mg/LRangeQueen Lane WTP | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
+By source (3)— Queen Lane WTP, Belmont WTP, Baxter WTP
| |||
VOCs & pesticides
| Contaminant | Measured | Federal limit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benzene | 12Reported levelColumn 2 | None set | Detected — no federal limit |
People also ask about Philadelphia, PA's water
+Is Philadelphia, PA tap water safe to drink in 2023?
The 2023 Consumer Confidence Report for the Philadelphia, PA water utility lists 3 contaminants at or above the federal limit: Gross Alpha, Uranium, and PFOA. 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 Philadelphia, PA tap water?
30 contaminants were measured in Philadelphia, PA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report, spanning pfas ("forever chemicals"), metals, and inorganic chemicals. 8 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 Philadelphia, PA tap water?
3 contaminants in Philadelphia, PA's 2023 report sit at or above the federal limit: Gross Alpha (15.2× the limit); Uranium (7.5× the limit); PFOA (1.1× 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 Philadelphia, PA tap water?
The contaminant with the highest measured value relative to its federal limit in the 2023 report is Gross Alpha, at 15.2× the federal threshold. It belongs to the radionuclides family of contaminants.
+Are any contaminants in Philadelphia, PA tap water approaching the federal limit?
One contaminant is between 80% and 100% of the federal limit in this report: PFOS. 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 Philadelphia, PA's 2023 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 Philadelphia, 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 2023 report; a new report will replace it once the utility publishes its next annual update.