What was found in Harrisburg'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 | 4058.5 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 771 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: CAPITAL REGION WATER · 66,540 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 116.3 µg/L 8.9% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 173 µg/L — MOUNTAINDALE APARTMENTS · 50 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 100.1 µg/L 125% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 84.82 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 70.85 µg/L 118% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 9.08 µg/L 61% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 42.8 µg/L — CAPITAL REGION WATER · 66,540 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 42.25 µg/L 2.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 37.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 31.62 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 36.85 µg/L — CAPITAL REGION WATER · 66,540 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 19.03 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 12 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Highest in the city: MOUNTAINDALE APARTMENTS · 50 people · 2018 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 3/3 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 5.653 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 5 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: CAPITAL REGION WATER · 66,540 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 4.5 µg/L 45% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: MOUNTAINDALE APARTMENTS · 50 people · 2018 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 4.27 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 2.95 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 2/3 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.8400 µg/L 28% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 0.6494 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Hexachlorocyclopentadiene | 0.2700 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2019 | 1/3 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0021 mg/L 14% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0312 mg/L — MOUNTAINDALE APARTMENTS · 50 people · 2001 | 3/3 | LCR |
| Pfpea | 0.0054 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2023 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0045 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2023 | 1/3 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0041 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: VEOLIA WATER · 110,000 people · 2023 | 1/3 | 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 Harrisburg
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| VEOLIA WATER | 110,000 |
| CAPITAL REGION WATER | 66,540 |
| MOUNTAINDALE APARTMENTS | 50 |
Frequently asked questions about Harrisburg tap water
Is Harrisburg tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 25 contaminants in the water serving Harrisburg. 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 Harrisburg?
3 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Harrisburg's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Harrisburg include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, TTHM, Chloroform. 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.