Is Derry, PA tap water safe?
Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it
Summary
No federal limits exceeded in EPA data for Pennsylvania American Water. 5 PFAS were detected below the limits.
Pennsylvania American Water supplies Derry (50,200 people).
Water system
Pennsylvania American Water
50,200 people · Surface water · EPA ID PA7220017
Buys treated water from Lebanon Water Authority.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA One sample above limit | 1.07 ppt | 4 ppt |
| PFOS Not detected | – | 4 ppt |
| PFHxS Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| PFNA Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) Not detected | – | 10 ppt |
ppt = parts per trillion. "Highest average" is the highest average at any of the system's entry points, the way EPA compares results with the limits.
Lead: 3 ppb at the 90th percentile (Sep 2025, and 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below it) Below action level
Health-based violations since 2016: 0
Across Pennsylvania, 85 of 360 water systems EPA tested had PFAS above a 2024 federal limit, and 76 systems were above the lead action level in results from the last five years. Pennsylvania results.
Derry homes and lead pipes
Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. Renting? Ask your landlord what the service line is made of, because it's their pipe to replace. How to check your own line.
Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Derry township (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Swatara 8 mi Veolia Water | None above limits | 2.1 ppb |
| Lower Paxton 9 mi Capital Region Water | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Susquehanna 12 mi Veolia Water | None above limits | 2.1 ppb |
| Harrisburg 12 mi Capital Region Water | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| East Hempfield 19 mi East Hempfield Water Authority | Above limit | 8 ppb |
| Manheim 22 mi East Hempfield Water Authority | Above limit | 8 ppb |
Derry ZIP codes (2)
- 17033
- 17036
Questions
Is Derry tap water safe to drink?
Pennsylvania American Water has had no health-based violations since 2016. Utility data can't show lead from your own pipes: if your home was built before 1986, test your tap. Your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report is the official summary.
Who supplies water in Derry, PA?
Pennsylvania American Water, which serves 50,200 people.
Does Derry tap water have PFAS?
Pennsylvania American Water had 5 PFAS detected at least once in EPA's 2023–2025 testing, all with averages below the federal limits.
Do Derry homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 51% of Derry homes as built before 1980 (Pennsylvania: 67%). Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so older homes are more likely to have them. Pennsylvania American Water's service line inventory says what your line is made of. The only way to know for your home is to check the line where it enters the house and test your tap.
Source: U.S. EPA drinking water records and PFAS testing (UCMR 5). How we read the data.