Is Allentown tap water safe to drink?

Yes but with caveats

Allentown's water meets EPA minimum standards but has some concerns including PFAS detected. Filtration is recommended for sensitive individuals.

63/100
Purity Score
4
Issues Found
8.7 GPG
Hardness
Detected
PFAS

4 Issues Detected in Allentown

PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Detected

PFAS are man-made chemicals that do not break down and accumulate in the body.

PFAS details for Allentown

Moderately Hard Water (8.7 GPG)

Hardness above 7 GPG can cause minor scale buildup.

Hardness data for Allentown

Moderate Chlorine Level

Chlorine within EPA limits but may affect taste.

Chlorine info for Allentown

Arsenic Approaching Limit (0.4 mg/L)

EPA limit is 0.010 mg/L.

Arsenic info for Allentown
Pennsylvania

181,011,810,218,103 · Little Lehigh Creek and local wells

Allentown, PA Water Quality Report

Elevated Risk Updated March 2026 125,845 residents
63
Purity Score

Health Insights

  • 1
    At 8.7 GPG, Allentown's water qualifies as moderately hard. This can cause limescale in pipes and shorten appliance lifespan.
  • 2
    PFAS have been identified in Allentown's water at 2.2 parts per trillion. A reverse osmosis system is the most reliable home treatment.
  • 3
    Chlorine levels may affect the taste of Allentown's tap water. A carbon filter improves flavor.

Score

63 /100
Moderate
"Good" threshold (70)

Allentown tap water is sourced from Little Lehigh Creek and local wells and treated by Allentown Bureau of Water Resources. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected. Water hardness is hard at 8.7 GPG which may cause scale buildup. Overall purity score: 63/100 (Moderate). Updated for 2026.

Fix Your Water

Best filters matched to Allentown's 4 issues.

See Filters

Explore Allentown Water Data

Allentown Water FAQ

Is Allentown PA tap water safe to drink in 2026?
Allentown tap water meets EPA federal drinking water standards and scores 63/100 (Moderate) on PurityMap for 2026. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected at 2.2 ppt. An NSF-certified filter is strongly recommended. For most healthy adults the water is considered safe but point-of-use filtration adds an important layer of protection.
Does Allentown PA use chlorine or chloramine for disinfection?
Allentown uses chloramine as the primary disinfectant with a residual level of 1.8 ppm. Chloramine is harder to remove than free chlorine and requires a catalytic carbon or reverse osmosis filter. Standard Brita-style pitchers will NOT remove chloramine.
How hard is Allentown PA water and what is the TDS level?
Allentown water hardness is 8.7 grains per gallon (hard) with a TDS of 310 ppm (poor). This level causes noticeable scale buildup in water heaters kettles and dishwashers. A water softener is recommended to protect plumbing and reduce soap usage.
Has PFAS been found in Allentown PA drinking water?
Yes. PFAS forever chemicals have been detected in Allentown water at approximately 2.2 ppt according to EPA UCMR5 monitoring data. A reverse osmosis or NSF P473-certified filter is the most effective residential solution.
What is the best water filter for Allentown?
Based on Allentown's water profile, we recommend the Clearly Filtered Water Pitcher. Allentown: PFAS detected or elevated lead risk. Reverse osmosis is the only residential technology proven to reduce both below detection limits. TDS will also drop significantly.

Nearby Reports

All Pennsylvania cities

Explore Water Quality by State

Compare across all 50 US states

View All States

Data Sources

  • EPA SDWIS
  • EWG Tap Water Database
  • Allentown Bureau of Water Resources CCR
  • USGS monitoring data

PurityMap compiles public data. Updated March 2026.

Link copied!

Scroll to Top