What was found in Somerset'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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 325.285 µg/L 25% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1313.8 µg/L — SOMERSET TWP M A FRIEDENS · 1,374 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Nitrate | 547.5 µg/L 5.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 1170 µg/L — SOMERSET CNTY QUEMAHONING SYST · 25 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 895 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 690 µg/L 35% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 694.17 µg/L — SOMERSET TWP MA READING MINES · 494 people · 2018 | 5/8 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 51.375 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 681.125 µg/L — JEFFERSON TWP WATER AND SEWER · 350 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 6.37 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 595.435 µg/L — JEFFERSON TWP WATER AND SEWER · 350 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 70 µg/L 7% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: GLADES PIKE ESTATES MHP LLC · 180 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 54.86 µg/L 91% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 65.39 µg/L — SOMERSET TWP M A FRIEDENS · 1,374 people · 2019 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 58.725 µg/L 73% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 65.02 µg/L — SOMERSET TWP MUNI AUTH OAKRIDG · 3,800 people · 2019 | 8/8 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 40.47 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 25.59 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 25.725 µg/L — SOMERSET TWP M A FRIEDENS · 1,374 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 16.69 µg/L 111% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 17.14 µg/L — JEFFERSON TWP WATER AND SEWER · 350 people · 2019 | 6/8 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 13.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2024 | 1/8 | UCMR-5 |
| Antimony, Total | 3.1 µg/L 52% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: SOMERSET TWP MUN AUTH LISTIE · 218 people · 2018 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.365 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2.7775 µg/L — SOMERSET TWP MA READING MINES · 494 people · 2019 | 7/8 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 2.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SOMERSET TWP MA READING MINES · 494 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 2.4 µg/L 2.4% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Highest in the city: SOMERSET CNTY QUEMAHONING SYST · 25 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.725 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SOMERSET TWP MA READING MINES · 494 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SOMERSET TWP MA READING MINES · 494 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.1500 µg/L 5% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Highest in the city: SOMERSET CNTY QUEMAHONING SYST · 25 people · 2019 | 1/8 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0014 mg/L 9.3% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH · 6,309 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0658 mg/L — JEFFERSON TWP WATER AND SEWER · 350 people · 2025 | 7/8 | LCR |
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 Somerset
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| SOMERSET BORO MUNI WATER AUTH | 6,309 |
| SOMERSET TWP MUNI AUTH OAKRIDG | 3,800 |
| SOMERSET TWP M A FRIEDENS | 1,374 |
| SOMERSET TWP MA READING MINES | 494 |
| JEFFERSON TWP WATER AND SEWER | 350 |
| SOMERSET TWP MUN AUTH LISTIE | 218 |
| GLADES PIKE ESTATES MHP LLC | 180 |
| SOMERSET CNTY QUEMAHONING SYST | 25 |
Frequently asked questions about Somerset tap water
Is Somerset tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 21 contaminants in the water serving Somerset. 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 Somerset?
8 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Somerset, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Somerset's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Somerset include Copper, Nitrate, Fluoride, Barium, 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.