PFAS ("forever chemicals") · 2023
PFOA in Philadelphia, PA tap water
Philadelphia, PA's 2023 report shows PFOA detected, but the EPA has not set an enforceable federal limit for it.
The measurement
| Statistic | Value | Federal limit |
|---|---|---|
Maximum System-wide | 7.3 | 4 MCL |
Range System-wide | 2.5–7.3 | 4 MCL |
Range System-wide | 0–8.1 | None set |
Average System-wide | 4.6 | None set |
Reported level Testing Period | 1–2024 | None set |
Verbatim from Philadelphia, PA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report — source document ↗
About PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products.
Linked to cancer, liver damage, and immune effects; the EPA set an enforceable limit of 4 parts per trillion.
How Philadelphia, PA compares
5 of the 145 systems measuring PFOA on The Water Map have it at or above the federal limit:
Nearby systems also reporting PFOA:
People also ask
+Is there PFOA in Philadelphia, PA tap water?
Yes — Philadelphia, PA's 2023 Consumer Confidence Report lists PFOA at 4.6. Philadelphia, PA's 2023 report shows PFOA detected, but the EPA has not set an enforceable federal limit for it.
+What's the federal limit for PFOA in drinking water?
The federal MCL for PFOA is 4 . The EPA enforces this against the regulated reporting statistic (running annual average or 90th percentile), not a single-sample spike.
+What is PFOA?
Perfluorooctanoic acid, a PFAS 'forever chemical' once used in nonstick and stain-resistant products. Linked to cancer, liver damage, and immune effects; the EPA set an enforceable limit of 4 parts per trillion.
+Which other U.S. cities have PFOA over the federal limit?
5 of the 145 systems on The Water Map measuring PFOA report it at or above the federal limit. Examples include Charleston, SC, North Charleston, SC, Saint Paul, MN.
+Where does this PFOA measurement come from?
This page reproduces the PFOA entry from the 2023 Consumer Confidence Report published by the Philadelphia, PA water utility — the annual drinking-water report every U.S. utility is required by federal law to publish. The original source document is archived at /water/pa/philadelphia/2023/source.