What was found in State College'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 | 5680 µg/L 57% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6592.5 µg/L — COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 826 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 204.6 µg/L 16% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 669.65 µg/L — COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| Nitrite | 150 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: TROTTER FARMS · 175 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 29.625 µg/L 1.5% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 60.08 µg/L — COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2018 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 12.9 µg/L 86% of the EPA limit 15 µg/L Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.8 µg/L — COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2019 | 4/4 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 14.895 µg/L 19% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 18.1 µg/L — COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 10.29 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 6.555 µg/L 11% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 5.75 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.9 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.35 µg/L — COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 4.702 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019 | 3/4 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 3.741 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.61 µg/L — COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 4.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 3.295 µg/L 55% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: NITTANY GROVE CONDO COMM ASSN · 45 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.95 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Chromium | 1.02 µg/L 1% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 0.8320 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.7450 µg/L 15% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.2000 µg/L 6.7% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2019 | 2/4 | SYR4 |
| Benzo(A)Pyrene | 0.0260 µg/L 13% of the EPA limit 0.2000 µg/L Highest in the city: TROTTER FARMS · 175 people · 2019 | 1/4 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0039 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2023 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0038 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY · 6,000 people · 2023 | 1/4 | UCMR-5 |
| Lead | 0.0037 mg/L 25% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH · 72,000 people · 2025 | 3/4 | 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 State College
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH | 72,000 |
| COLLEGE TWP WATER AUTHORITY | 6,000 |
| TROTTER FARMS | 175 |
| NITTANY GROVE CONDO COMM ASSN | 45 |
Frequently asked questions about State College tap water
Is State College tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 24 contaminants in the water serving State College. 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 State College?
4 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for State College, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in State College's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in State College include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, 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.