Is Wilkes-Barre, 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 – Ceasetown.
2 public water systems serve parts of Wilkes-Barre. The largest, Pennsylvania American Water – Ceasetown, serves 58,467 people. Your water bill names your system.
Largest system
Pennsylvania American Water – Ceasetown
58,467 people · Surface water · EPA ID PA2409002
Buys treated water from Pennsylvania American Water – Crystal Lake.
| PFAS | Highest average | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA Not detected | – | 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: 0 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.
Wilkes-Barre 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 Wilkes-Barre city (tables B25034, B25003). Estimates for small places have a margin of error.
Other water systems serving Wilkes-Barre
How nearby cities compare
| City | PFAS | Lead (90th pct.) |
|---|---|---|
| Scranton 15 mi Pennsylvania American Water – Lake Scranton | Above limit | 1 ppb |
| Whitehall 45 mi Swt Main System | None above limits | 6 ppb |
| Allentown 50 mi Lehigh County Authority – Allentown Division | None above limits | 7 ppb |
| Bethlehem 50 mi City of Bethlehem | None above limits | 0 ppb |
| Lower Macungie 52 mi Lehigh County Authority – Wlsa Central Division | Above limit | 2 ppb |
| Reading 63 mi Reading Area Water Authority | Above limit | 0 ppb |
Wilkes-Barre ZIP codes (3)
- 18701
- 18702
- 18705
Questions
Is Wilkes-Barre tap water safe to drink?
Pennsylvania American Water – Ceasetown 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 Wilkes-Barre, PA?
2 public water systems serve parts of Wilkes-Barre. The largest is Pennsylvania American Water – Ceasetown (58,467 people). Your water bill names your system. The EPA ID is also on your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.
Does Wilkes-Barre tap water have PFAS?
None detected above EPA's reporting limits. Pennsylvania American Water – Ceasetown had no PFAS detected in EPA's 2023–2025 testing. "Not detected" means below the reporting limit (about 2 to 20 ppt), not proven zero.
Do Wilkes-Barre homes have lead pipes?
Census estimates put 86% of Wilkes-Barre 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 – Ceasetown'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.