What was found in York'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 | 4934 µg/L 49% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 10550 µg/L — ZEIGLER MHP · 46 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 100 µg/L 7.7% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 912.5 µg/L — WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH · 9,960 people · 2019 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 780 µg/L 20% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Highest in the city: WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH · 9,960 people · 2018 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 21.985 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 700 µg/L — WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH · 9,960 people · 2018 | 5/5 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 46.12 µg/L 58% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 43.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH · 9,960 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| Chromium | 38 µg/L 38% of the EPA limit 100 µg/L Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 35.96 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 33.4 µg/L 56% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 21.66 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 21 µg/L 140% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019 | 4/5 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 12.635 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019 | 3/5 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 12 µg/L 120% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY VIEW MANOR YWC · 125 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 7.8 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Combined Uranium | 6.31015 µg/L 21% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH · 9,960 people · 2017 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 2.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 5.55 µg/L — WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH · 9,960 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 3.445 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 4.85 µg/L — WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH · 9,960 people · 2019 | 2/5 | SYR4 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate | 3.4 µg/L 57% of the EPA limit 6 µg/L Highest in the city: WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH · 9,960 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 1.91 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH · 9,960 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 1.81 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 1.3 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Toluene | 0.6700 µg/L 0.1% of the EPA limit 1000 µg/L Highest in the city: COUNTRY VIEW MANOR YWC · 125 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Atrazine | 0.4160 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2019 | 1/5 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0030 mg/L 20% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: YORK WATER CO · 206,762 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.0225 mg/L — WHERLEY PARK · 34 people · 2022 | 5/5 | LCR |
| PFOS | 0.0062 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH · 9,960 people · 2025 | 1/5 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0048 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH · 9,960 people · 2025 | 1/5 | 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 York
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| YORK WATER CO | 206,762 |
| WEST MANCHESTER TWP AUTH | 9,960 |
| COUNTRY VIEW MANOR YWC | 125 |
| ZEIGLER MHP | 46 |
| WHERLEY PARK | 34 |
Frequently asked questions about York tap water
Is York tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 26 contaminants in the water serving York. 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 York?
5 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for York, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in York's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in York include Nitrate, Copper, Fluoride, 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.