Tap Water Results

Is Spring, PA tap water safe?

Data: U.S. EPA · How we read the data · How we check it

Summary

Pennsylvania American Water – Penn District, the largest system here, had PFAS above the 2024 federal limits (PFOA, PFOS) in EPA's 2023–2025 testing.

Is it an emergency? No: PFAS limits are about years of exposure, not a glass of water, and nothing in EPA's data calls for you to stop drinking the water today. If your utility issues a boil-water or do-not-drink notice, follow it.

4 public water systems serve parts of Spring. The largest, Pennsylvania American Water – Penn District, serves 28,508 people, and one system here had PFAS above a federal limit. Your water bill names your system.

Largest system

Pennsylvania American Water – Penn District

28,508 people · Groundwater · EPA ID PA3060069

Buys treated water from Western Berks Water Authority.

PFASHighest averageLimitStatus
PFOA
Above limit
6.5 ppt4 pptAbove limit
PFOS
Above limit
15.4 ppt4 pptAbove limit
PFHxS
Detected, below limit
9.3 ppt10 pptDetected, below limit
PFNA
Not detected
–10 pptNot detected
HFPO-DA (GenX)
Not detected
–10 pptNot detected

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.

For context: the PFOA average is higher than at 88% of the Pennsylvania systems EPA tested and the PFOS average is higher than at 97% of the Pennsylvania systems EPA tested.

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

Full Pennsylvania American Water – Penn District results

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.

Spring homes and lead pipes

57%
of homes built before 1980 (Pennsylvania 67%, US 50%)
14%
built before 1950 (Pennsylvania 32%)
25%
of households rent (Pennsylvania 31%)

Lead service lines and lead solder were allowed until 1986, so homes from before then are the ones to check. How to check your own line.

Housing: Census American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates for Spring township (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.

Other water systems serving Spring

  • Shillington Municipal Authority
    13,300 people · Purchased surface water · Pennsylvania · reported ZIPs here
    Coliform bacteria violations
  • Wernersville Municipal Water Authority
    7,920 people · Purchased surface water · Pennsylvania · reported ZIPs here
    PFOA detected
  • Western Berks Water Authority
    75 people · Surface water · Pennsylvania · reported ZIPs here
    Not in EPA's PFAS sample

How nearby cities compare

CityMain water systemPFASLead (90th pct.)
Reading 6 mi
Reading Area Water Authority
Reading Area Water AuthorityAbove limit0 ppb
Exeter 10 mi
Reading Area Water Authority
Reading Area Water AuthorityAbove limit0 ppb
Manheim 20 mi
East Hempfield Water Authority
East Hempfield Water AuthorityAbove limit8 ppb
East Hempfield 24 mi
East Hempfield Water Authority
East Hempfield Water AuthorityAbove limit8 ppb
Lower Macungie 29 mi
Lehigh County Authority – Wlsa Central Division
Lehigh County Authority – Wlsa Central DivisionAbove limit2 ppb
Derry 33 mi
Pennsylvania American Water
Pennsylvania American WaterNone above limits3 ppb
Spring ZIP codes (3)
  • 19608
  • 19609
  • 19610

Questions

Is Spring tap water safe to drink?

Pennsylvania American Water – Penn District has had no health-based violations since 2016, and EPA testing found PFAS above the 2024 federal limits, which it must meet by 2029. 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 Spring, PA?

4 public water systems serve parts of Spring. The largest is Pennsylvania American Water – Penn District (28,508 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

Does Spring tap water have PFAS?

Yes. EPA's 2023–2025 testing found entry-point averages above the 2024 federal limits for PFOA and PFOS at Pennsylvania American Water – Penn District. Systems have until 2029 to meet them.

Do Spring homes have lead pipes?

Census estimates put 57% of Spring 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 – Penn District'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.