City water report · 2026

Is Bethlehem Tap Water Safe to Drink?

Short answer: In the 2024–2025 records we hold for Bethlehem, no listed result is above a legal limit. 2 substances were detected and 31 were tested and not detected. The water is from City of Bethlehem, serving 117,259 residents.

  • Year 2026
  • Utility City of Bethlehem
  • Coverage 33 records
  • Updated 2026-10-15
Water utility

Where Bethlehem’s water comes from

Utility
City of Bethlehem
Water system
CITY OF BETHLEHEM · PA3480046
Source water
Surface water
Disinfectant
Chlorine
Population served
117,259
Reporting period
Sampled 2024–2025
Monitoring coverage
33 records · 4 of 4 groups measured
Service lines
0 lead, 777 galvanized, 29,933 unknown material (EPA inventory, 2026Q2)
Likely match, check your bill

Your water bill or annual water quality report names your actual supplier.

  • PA3480046 · 117,259 served

Also supplies: Fountain Hill, Freemansburg

Why this matters
  1. 1
    Source

    Surface water

  2. 2
    Treatment

    Treated and disinfected with chlorine.

  3. 3
    Distribution

    Mains, then your building’s service line.

  4. 4
    Your tap

    Plumbing inside the building is outside this record.

At a glance

Bethlehem water in four numbers

Purity ScoreCITY OF BETHLEHEM · PWSID PA3480046
2Detectedwithin reference or no limit
0Above a referenceof 33 records
0Health-based violationslast 10 years · EPA SDWIS

No measured result is above a legal limit.

What we found

2 detected results, by distance from their limit

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)Within reference · Federal MCL80 ppb federal MCL69ppb
① · Measured

69 ppb, sampled 2024. Utility CCR.

② · Compared

80 ppb federal MCL: a legal limit.

③ · Meaning

69 ppb (below the 80 ppb federal limit).

④ · Where it matters

Forms in the pipes as the disinfectant reacts with natural organic matter.

⑤ · What to do

Test your own tap first. Technologies that can reduce it: Activated carbon, Reverse osmosis.

See the evidence record →
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)Within reference · Federal MCL60 ppb federal MCL32ppb
① · Measured

32 ppb, sampled 2024. Utility CCR.

② · Compared

60 ppb federal MCL: a legal limit.

③ · Meaning

32 ppb (below the 60 ppb federal limit).

④ · Where it matters

Forms in the pipes as the disinfectant reacts with natural organic matter.

⑤ · What to do

Test your own tap first. Technologies that can reduce it: Activated carbon, Reverse osmosis.

See the evidence record →
31 others tested, none detectedshow
  • 11Cl-PF3OUdS
  • 8:2 FTS
  • 4:2 FTS
  • 6:2 FTS
  • ADONA
  • 9Cl-PF3ONS
  • HFPO-DA (GenX)
  • Lead (90th percentile)
  • Lithium
  • NEtFOSAA
  • NMeFOSAA
  • NFDHA
  • PFEESA
  • PFMPA
  • PFMBA
  • PFBS
  • PFBA
  • PFDA
  • PFDoA
  • PFHpS
  • PFHpA
  • PFHxS
  • PFHxA
  • PFNA
  • PFOS
  • PFOA
  • PFPeS
  • PFPeA
  • PFTA
  • PFTrDA
  • PFUnA

CITY OF BETHLEHEM (EPA PWSID PA3480046) delivers surface water to 117,259 residents. This report reflects 29 individual PFAS result(s) from the source UCMR5 observations and the latest Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile result. The utility's 2024 CCR reports chlorine disinfection.

Track record

0health-based violations in the last 10 years

From EPA SDWIS. A clean violation history means no enforcement action was recorded; it does not cover contaminants without a limit.

Your household

Your tap can differ from the city record

The record describes water leaving treatment and samples across the system. Pipes, solder and fixtures inside a building can add lead the record can’t see, especially in older buildings with lead service lines.

Test your water
  1. City
    Treated water

    Measured in this report

  2. Mains
    Distribution network

    Sampled across the system

  3. Building
    Service line and plumbing

    Not in this record

  4. Tap
    Your glass

    Only a tap test measures it

Test first, then treat

Three steps from a record to your glass

  1. 01Test

    Know what comes from your tap, starting with a first-draw lead sample.

  2. 02Match

    Compare each result with its named reference in our test reader.

  3. 03Treat

    Choose a technology certified for what your test found.

Commercial

Test kits

Affiliate links

Screening tells you if something is worth a closer look; a lab result is the number you can act on.

As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

  • Lab-certified results

    ETR Labs Basic Water Quality Test Kit

    ETR Laboratories

    50+ substances, including lead, copper, arsenic, nitrate, hardness and coliform bacteria

    What it can't tell you: It does not test PFAS, and not every result on the panel falls under the lab's accredited scope.

  • Screening: quick check, not lab-grade

    Safe Home DIY Lead in Drinking Water Combo Test Kit

    Safe Home (EnviroTestKits)

    Lead, read as one of three ranges: 0–4, 5–15 or 15+ ppb

    • Turnaround: 5 minutes

    What it can't tell you: It shows a lead range, not an exact level, and tests nothing else unless you pay extra for the optional lab test.

When your results arrive, read them here → · Compare every kit we list

Treatment matching

What can reduce what was found here

FindingReference typeTechnologyCertification to check
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)69 ppbFederal MCLActivated carbon, Reverse osmosisCheck the certifier’s listing
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)32 ppbFederal MCLActivated carbon, Reverse osmosisCheck the certifier’s listing
Galvanized service lines777 galvanized on record (EPA inventory, 2026Q2)Not a tap measurementLead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosisNSF/ANSI 53 (lead)

Understand water treatment technologies →

Commercial

Filters for lead: Bethlehem has galvanized service lines on record

Affiliate links

★ Best choice: Brita Elite Water Filter Pitcher, certified for lead.

Filters for lead: Bethlehem has galvanized service lines on record
PickProductDetails and priceCertificationWhy it’s listedLink
★ Best choicePitcherBrita Elite Water Filter PitcherBritaTreatsleadPrice$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Also goodUnder-sinkAquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M)AquasanaTreatsleadPrice$$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price at Aquasana
Also goodCountertopAquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2)AquasanaTreatsleadPrice$$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price at Aquasana
See all 16 drinking-water options for lead
More drinking-water options for lead
PickProductDetails and priceCertificationWhy it’s listedLink
Also goodReverse osmosisSmartFlow® Reverse OsmosisAquasana · Treats only drinking water at its own faucet, not showers or the rest of the house.TreatsleadTechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$Certified for lead (WQA)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price at Aquasana
Also goodUnder-sinkWaterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis SystemWaterdropTreatsleadPrice$$$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 58-2024, IAPMO)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price at Waterdrop
Also goodUnder-sinkWaterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis SystemWaterdropTreatsleadPrice$$$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 58-2024, IAPMO)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price at Waterdrop
Also goodCountertopAquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100)AquaTruTreatsleadPrice$$$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 58, IAPMO)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Also goodCountertopAquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000)AquaTruTreatsleadPrice$$$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 58, IAPMO)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Also goodUnder-sinkAquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200)AquasanaTreatsleadPrice$$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Also goodPitcherCulligan ZeroWater 10-Cup Pitcher (ZEROP10)Culligan ZeroWaterTreatsleadPrice$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Also goodUnder-sinkFrizzlife SP99 Under-Sink FilterFrizzlife Technology IncTreatsleadPrice$$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53-2024, IAPMO)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Also goodFaucet-mountPUR Plus Faucet Filter (FM2500V)PURTreatsleadPrice$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Also goodCountertopPatriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration SystemPatriot Pure (4Patriots)TreatsleadPrice$$Certified for Lead (NSF/ANSI 53, NSF, IAPMO)Why it’s listed: its current certification names lead; Bethlehem’s record lists galvanized service lines.See the evidenceCheck price on Amazon
Also goodReverse osmosisiSpring RCC7AK Alkaline Reverse Osmosis SystemiSpring · It treats only the water from its own faucet and sends part of the water to the drain; the NSF listing for the plain RCC7AK covers dissolved solids, not lead or PFAS.Use code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order.TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$Brand lab-tested, not independently certified for leadSee the evidenceCheck price at iSpring
Also goodReverse osmosisiSpring RO5004F Tankless Reverse Osmosis System with UViSpring · Its PFAS and lead reduction claims are iSpring's own, with no third-party certification named for this model, and it treats only the water at its own faucet.Use code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order.TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$Brand lab-tested, not independently certified for leadSee the evidenceCheck price at iSpring
Also goodReverse osmosisWaterdrop X12 Reverse Osmosis SystemWaterdrop · Its IAPMO NSF/ANSI 58 certification covers TDS reduction only, so its PFAS and lead claims rest on Waterdrop's own SGS lab testing.TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$$Brand lab-tested, not independently certified for leadSee the evidenceCheck price at Waterdrop

★ Best available: iSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House Filter, the best fit here; nothing in this group is certified yet.

Filters for lead: Bethlehem has galvanized service lines on record
PickProductDetails and priceCertificationWhy it’s listedLink
★ Best availableWhole-houseiSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House FilteriSpring · It does not reduce total dissolved solids or soften hard water, and its PFAS result comes from SGS lab testing rather than an NSF/ANSI certification.Use code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order.Price$$$Brand lab-tested, not independently certified for leadSee the evidenceCheck price at iSpring

PurityMap earns a commission from these links. "Best choice" and "Budget pick" go to certified products first; commission never decides them. As an Amazon Associate, PurityMap earns from qualifying purchases. Affiliate disclosure.

Lead service lines

Ask your utility first

City of Bethlehem reported 777 galvanized service lines to replace in EPA’s inventory (2026Q2). Many utilities replace these lines for free or share the cost. Ask City of Bethlehem whether your home’s line is on its list before you pay anyone.

Local help

Think your plumbing may be adding lead?

Call to be connected with a local plumbing provider about lead service lines, repiping or fixture replacement.

Is this right for my home?

Choose your situation

Your situation
Your path: I live in an older buildingLead from plumbing is the main question

Older buildings may have lead service lines, solder or fixtures. Bethlehem’s utility reported 777 galvanized service lines in EPA’s inventory. Test first-draw water, then filter if needed.

Look forLead reduction: NSF/ANSI 53 (lead)
How to test your tap →
Your path: I care about PFASCheck what was tested

None of the 29 PFAS tested was detected in Bethlehem’s record. If PFAS matters to you, a filter certification names each compound it covers.

Look forNSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with each compound you care about named on the listing
PFAS in Bethlehem →
Your path: My water tastes of chlorineBethlehem’s system disinfects with chlorine

Utilities keep a disinfectant in the pipes on the way to your tap. A carbon filter certified for chlorine reduces the taste.

Look forNSF/ANSI 42 (chlorine taste and odor)
Water treatment technologies →
Your path: I have scale or hard waterHardness is not in this record

Your utility’s annual water quality report usually lists hardness; a test strip also measures it.

Look forSoftener: NSF/ANSI 44 (softeners)
Hard water explained →
Your path: I want the broadest reductionReverse osmosis at one tap

Reverse osmosis reduces many dissolved contaminants, including lead and minerals, at a single faucet, with some water sent to drain.

Look forNSF/ANSI 58
Compare treatments →
Questions

Bethlehem tap water FAQ

Follow Bethlehem’s water

Get one email when Bethlehem’s record changes.

Follow Bethlehem’s water →
Is Bethlehem tap water safe to drink?

PurityMap does not give a safe/unsafe verdict; it shows what the public records measured. For Bethlehem, no regulated PFAS were detected in EPA's 2024 testing. CITY OF BETHLEHEM (PWSID PA3480046) has a Purity Score of 92/100 (confidence: high), assessed at the water-system level and computed only from contaminants that were measured. Water can change in your own pipes, so a certified test is the only way to know what comes out of your tap. What we found →

Who provides tap water in Bethlehem?

CITY OF BETHLEHEM (PWS ID PA3480046) is the public water system on record for Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, serving about 117,259 people. Confirm the utility on your water bill before acting on a specific finding. Water utility →

Where does Bethlehem get its drinking water?

Surface water (primary source of record in EPA SDWIS). Water utility →

Are PFAS "forever chemicals" in Bethlehem's water?

None of the 29 PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing (2024-02-23 to 2024-11-14) was detected. "Not detected" means below the lab's reporting limit, not proven zero. What we found →

Is there lead in Bethlehem's tap water?

Lead is not in Bethlehem's current published record. Lead usually enters from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so a certified home test is the way to know yours. Your household →

What does the latest Bethlehem water report show?

PurityMap's current record for Bethlehem holds 33 findings: 2 detected within the reference and 31 not detected. Each finding links to its dated public record; a parameter that was never monitored is shown as pending, not as a pass. Records →

Data and sources

33 records, each traceable

  • EPA UCMR 5
  • EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule)
  • Utility CCR
ContaminantMeasuredReferenceSampledSource
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)69 ppb80 ppb federal MCL2024Utility CCR ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)32 ppb60 ppb federal MCL2024Utility CCR ↗ (opens in a new tab)
11-Chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)< 5 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2 FTS)< 5 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2 FTS)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
1H, 1H, 2H, 2H-perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2 FTS)< 5 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
4,8-Dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
9-Chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanone-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)< 2 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) (GenX chemicals)< 5 ng/L (not detected)10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Lead (90th percentile)Not detected15 µg/L federal action level2025EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule) ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Lithium< 9 µg/L (not detected)10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit)2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA)< 5 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA)< 6 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)< 20 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane) sulfonic acid (PFEESA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)< 4 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)< 3 ng/L (not detected)2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit)2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)< 5 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)< 3 ng/L (not detected)10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state)2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)< 4 ng/L (not detected)10 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)< 4 ng/L (not detected)4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)< 4 ng/L (not detected)4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024)2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)< 4 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)< 3 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA)< 8 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA)< 7 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)< 2 ng/L (not detected)No federal or state limit; shown for transparency2024EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab)
  • UCMR5 Analytical Results

    UCMR5 Analytical Results: CITY OF BETHLEHEM (PA3480046)

    US EPA

    Published
    2026-10-15
    Newest sample
    2024-11-14
    Findings here
    30
  • State SDWIS Compliance Record

    Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: CITY OF BETHLEHEM (PA3480046)

    US EPA SDWIS

    Published
    2026-10-13
    Newest sample
    2025
    Findings here
    1
  • Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)

    City of Bethlehem Water & Sewer Resources 2024 Consumer Confidence Report (CCR)

    City of Bethlehem Water & Sewer Resources

    Published
    2024-01-01
    Newest sample
    2024
    Findings here
    2

Methodology: how we analyze water. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the PurityMap Editorial Team before publication.

Methodology

How PurityMap reads Bethlehem’s water

  1. 01Source data

    EPA SDWIS, EPA UCMR 5 and utility reports, each dated and linked.

  2. 02Normalize

    Units converted to one basis; a non-detect kept distinct from zero.

  3. 03Classify

    Each result tagged by reference type: MCL, action level, screening level or aesthetic.

  4. 04Compare to the named reference

    Every value sits against its own reference, never a blended one.

  5. 05Score

    Measured subjects summarised at the water-system level; an open health-based violation caps the score.

  6. 06Match treatment

    Treatment is matched to what was found; a product is called certified only when its current certification names it.

What the Purity Score means: a summary of this water system’s published record, capped while a health-based violation is open. It is not a test of any tap. CITY OF BETHLEHEM · PWSID PA3480046 · Purity Score 92/100 (Excellent) · Confidence: high · Assessed at the water-system level

Full methodology →

Something off with your water's smell, color or taste?

Start with the hot-or-cold tap check. Where City of Bethlehem reported something related, it's shown below.

ZIP codes in Bethlehem

Look up water quality by ZIP code →