What was found in Newtown'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 | 4155 µg/L 42% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 4488 µg/L — TWP OF UPPER MAKEFIELD · 1,800 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 315.85 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1056 µg/L — TWP OF UPPER MAKEFIELD · 1,800 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 427.5 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 358 µg/L 9% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: BUCKINGHAM VLY REHAB & NURSING · 190 people · 2018 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 2.75 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 281.5 µg/L — BUCKINGHAM VLY REHAB & NURSING · 190 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 58.6 µg/L 73% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 35.75 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 37.2 µg/L — BUCKINGHAM VLY REHAB & NURSING · 190 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 35.9 µg/L 60% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Selenium | 2.36 µg/L 4.7% of the EPA limit 50 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 30 µg/L — BUCKINGHAM VLY REHAB & NURSING · 190 people · 2018 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 1.76 µg/L 18% of the EPA limit 10 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2018
Highest in the city: 22.55 µg/L — BUCKINGHAM VLY REHAB & NURSING · 190 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 16 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 8.59834 µg/L 29% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2017 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 7.925 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 7.95 µg/L — TWP OF UPPER MAKEFIELD · 1,800 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 6.517 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 6.3 µg/L 6.3% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 6.255 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 4.83 µg/L 81% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: BUCKINGHAM VLY REHAB & NURSING · 190 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1.32 µg/L — BUCKINGHAM VLY REHAB & NURSING · 190 people · 2018 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.254 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Adipate | 0.7500 µg/L 0.2% of the EPA limit 400 µg/L Highest in the city: BUCKINGHAM VLY REHAB & NURSING · 190 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Antimony, Total | 0.2680 µg/L 4.5% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.1208 mg/L — BUCKINGHAM VLY REHAB & NURSING · 190 people · 2020 | 3/4 | LCR |
| Cadmium | 0.0700 µg/L 1.4% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Mercury | 0.0250 µg/L 1.3% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2018 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| 1,2-DIBROMO-3-CHLOROPROPANE | 0.0200 µg/L 10% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: UPPER MAKEFIELD ENCLAVE · 25 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Ethylene Dibromide | 0.0200 µg/L 40% of the EPA limit 0.0500 µg/L Highest in the city: UPPER MAKEFIELD ENCLAVE · 25 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| PFOA | 0.0123 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0079 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0070 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0059 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfpea | 0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2024 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0040 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO · 38,500 people · 2024 | 1/4 | 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 Newtown
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| NEWTOWN ARTESIAN WATER CO | 38,500 |
| TWP OF UPPER MAKEFIELD | 1,800 |
| BUCKINGHAM VLY REHAB & NURSING | 190 |
| UPPER MAKEFIELD ENCLAVE | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Newtown tap water
Is Newtown tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 32 contaminants in the water serving Newtown. 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 Newtown?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Newtown, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Newtown's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Newtown include Nitrate, Copper, Barium, Fluoride, Lead. 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.