What was found in Lancaster'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 | 7509 µg/L 75% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 9920 µg/L — ROLLING HILLS MHP · 150 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 735 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3800 µg/L — TAMARACK & SPREAD EAGLE MHP · 300 people · 2018 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 232 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1830.5 µg/L — VILLAGE AT SAFE HARBOR · 120 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 50.45 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 148 µg/L — GROFFDALE MOBILEHOME PARK · 98 people · 2018 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 103.15 µg/L 129% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 80 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019 | 6/7 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 80.515 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 74.85 µg/L 125% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 60 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 32.935 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 28.35 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 28.0569 µg/L 94% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: GROFFDALE MOBILEHOME PARK · 98 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 21.505 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 8.95 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 16.9 µg/L — HAWK VALLEY VILLAGE · 250 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 5.6 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: TAMARACK & SPREAD EAGLE MHP · 300 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 5.5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019 | 5/7 | SYR4 |
| Cyanide | 5 µg/L 2.5% of the EPA limit 200 µg/L Highest in the city: VILLAGE AT SAFE HARBOR · 120 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 5 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 4.03 µg/L 67% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: TAMARACK & SPREAD EAGLE MHP · 300 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 0.5800 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 3.185 µg/L — ROLLING HILLS MHP · 150 people · 2018 | 3/7 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.9 µg/L 2.9% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: GROFFDALE MOBILEHOME PARK · 98 people · 2018 | 4/7 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 2 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Highest in the city: HAWK VALLEY VILLAGE · 250 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.47 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.51 µg/L — HAWK VALLEY VILLAGE · 250 people · 2018 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 0.9700 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: TAMARACK & SPREAD EAGLE MHP · 300 people · 2019 | 2/7 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.2874 µg/L 9.6% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2019 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Beryllium, Total | 0.0700 µg/L 1.8% of the EPA limit 4 µg/L Highest in the city: TAMARACK & SPREAD EAGLE MHP · 300 people · 2018 | 1/7 | SYR4 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0288 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0238 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0223 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0070 mg/L 47% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0170 mg/L — TAMARACK & SPREAD EAGLE MHP · 300 people · 2022 | 5/7 | LCR |
| Pfba | 0.0154 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0098 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2024 | 1/7 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0081 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: CITY OF LANCASTER · 120,000 people · 2024 | 1/7 | 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 Lancaster
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| CITY OF LANCASTER | 120,000 |
| TAMARACK & SPREAD EAGLE MHP | 300 |
| HAWK VALLEY VILLAGE | 250 |
| ROLLING HILLS MHP | 150 |
| VILLAGE AT SAFE HARBOR | 120 |
| DEVON CREEK DEVELOPMENT | 100 |
| GROFFDALE MOBILEHOME PARK | 98 |
Frequently asked questions about Lancaster tap water
Is Lancaster tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 31 contaminants in the water serving Lancaster. 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 Lancaster?
7 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Lancaster, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Lancaster's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Lancaster include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Barium, TTHM. 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.