What was found in Allentown's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 4680 µg/L 47% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7050 µg/L — LCA UPPER MILFORD CENTRAL DIV · 256 people · 2019 | 11/16 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 324.8 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 742.2 µg/L — LCA UPPER MILFORD CENTRAL DIV · 256 people · 2019 | 16/16 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 577.5 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 700 µg/L — LCA NORTH WHITEHALL DIVISION · 2,910 people · 2018 | 3/16 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 495.5 µg/L 50% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: LCA WLSA CENTRAL DIVISION · 47,693 people · 2019 | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 38 µg/L 1.9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 208.1 µg/L — LCA BEVERLY HILLS DIVISION · 122 people · 2018 | 11/16 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 11.16 µg/L 74% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 145.4 µg/L — LCA ARCADIA WEST DIVISION · 1,392 people · 2019 | 15/16 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 49.45 µg/L 62% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 87.16 µg/L — LCA WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP DIV · 965 people · 2019 | 16/16 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 25.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 57.12 µg/L — LCA WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP DIV · 965 people · 2019 | 16/16 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 25 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 52.82 µg/L — LCA NORTH WHITEHALL DIVISION · 2,910 people · 2019 | 14/16 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 10.955 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.35 µg/L — LCA NORTH WHITEHALL DIVISION · 2,910 people · 2019 | 12/16 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 13.035 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.35 µg/L — LCA NORTH WHITEHALL DIVISION · 2,910 people · 2019 | 13/16 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 15.575 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.96 µg/L — LCA WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP DIV · 965 people · 2019 | 15/16 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 10.45 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.6 µg/L — LCA ARCADIA WEST DIVISION · 1,392 people · 2019 | 14/16 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.8075 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9.24 µg/L — LCA ARCADIA WEST DIVISION · 1,392 people · 2019 | 13/16 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 5.78195 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: LCA UPPER MILFORD CENTRAL DIV · 256 people · 2019 | 3/16 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 3.91 µg/L 7.8% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019 | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 3.63 µg/L 3.6% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019 | 7/16 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.914 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3 µg/L — SALISBURY TWP WATER SYSTEM · 8,522 people · 2019 | 9/16 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 0.7645 µg/L 7.6% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.95 µg/L — LCA PINE LAKES DIVISION · 158 people · 2018 | 4/16 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 2.8675 µg/L 57% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 1.91 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: LCA HEIDELBERG HEIGHTS DIV · 509 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 1.8 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L Highest in the city: LCA UPPER MILFORD CENTRAL DIV · 256 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 1.63 µg/L 33% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: LCA WLSA CENTRAL DIVISION · 47,693 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 1.37 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LCA PINE LAKES DIVISION · 158 people · 2018 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 1.1 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: SWT MAIN SYSTEM · 14,500 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| 1,1,1-Trichloroethane | 1.04 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: SWT MAIN SYSTEM · 14,500 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 1 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: SWT MAIN SYSTEM · 14,500 people · 2018 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Benzene | 0.9000 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: SWT MAIN SYSTEM · 14,500 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Dichloromethane | 0.7000 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: LCA WLSA CENTRAL DIVISION · 47,693 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.6950 µg/L 12% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: LCA HEIDELBERG HEIGHTS DIV · 509 people · 2018 | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Cadmium | 0.4000 µg/L 8% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: LCA WLSA CENTRAL DIVISION · 47,693 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.2750 µg/L 9.2% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Highest in the city: LCA UPPER MILFORD CENTRAL DIV · 256 people · 2019 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.2000 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2019 | 2/16 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 0.0300 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: SWT MAIN SYSTEM · 14,500 people · 2018 | 1/16 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0075 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0101 µg/L — SWT MAIN SYSTEM · 14,500 people · 2024 | 4/16 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0070 mg/L 47% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0100 mg/L — LCA WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP DIV · 965 people · 1996 | 13/16 | LCR |
| Pfhxa | 0.0064 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2023 | 4/16 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0045 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SALISBURY TWP WATER SYSTEM · 8,522 people · 2025 | 3/16 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0044 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2023 | 2/16 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0030 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION · 118,000 people · 2023
Highest in the city: 0.0038 µg/L — LCA WLSA CENTRAL DIVISION · 47,693 people · 2024 | 4/16 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0031 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: LCA WLSA CENTRAL DIVISION · 47,693 people · 2024 | 1/16 | UCMR-5 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Allentown
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION | 118,000 |
| LCA WLSA CENTRAL DIVISION | 47,693 |
| SWT MAIN SYSTEM | 14,500 |
| SALISBURY TWP WATER SYSTEM | 8,522 |
| LCA NORTH WHITEHALL DIVISION | 2,910 |
| LCA ARCADIA WEST DIVISION | 1,392 |
| SWT ALLENTOWN CONS SYSTEM | 1,300 |
| LCA EMMAUS CONSECUTIVE DIV | 1,046 |
| LCA WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP DIV | 965 |
| HANOVER TOWNSHIP LEHIGH COUNTY | 520 |
| LCA HEIDELBERG HEIGHTS DIV | 509 |
| LCA MADISON NORTH DIVISION | 290 |
| LCA UPPER MILFORD CENTRAL DIV | 256 |
| LCA PINE LAKES DIVISION | 158 |
| LCA BEVERLY HILLS DIVISION | 122 |
| LCA MILL CREEK DIVISION | 88 |
Frequently asked questions about Allentown tap water
Is Allentown tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 41 contaminants in the water serving Allentown. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Allentown?
16 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Allentown, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Allentown's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Allentown include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, Nitrite, Barium. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.