Short answer: In the 2023–2025 records we hold for Lancaster, PFOA had a sample above a 2024 EPA limit (not a violation: the limit is judged on a yearly average, due 2029), and a health-based violation is on record (EPA SDWIS). 3 more are detected with no federal limit, and everything else measured is within its reference or not detected. 7 substances were detected and 24 were tested and not detected. The water is from City of Lancaster, serving 120,000 residents.
Your water bill or annual water quality report names your actual supplier.
Also supplies: Millersville
Surface water
The treatment details are not on record.
Mains, then your building’s service line.
Plumbing inside the building is outside this record.
PFOA had a sample above a 2024 EPA limit (not a violation: the limit is judged on a yearly average, due 2029); 3 more are detected with no federal limit, and everything else measured is within its reference or not detected.
23.8 ng/L, sampled 2023-12-06 to 2024-09-05. EPA UCMR 5.
4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024): a legal limit. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation. EPA health goal (MCLG): 0.
One EPA sample measured 23.8 ng/L, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation.
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 (PFOA/PFOS)).
7 µg/L, sampled 2025–2025 monitoring period. EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule).
15 µg/L federal action level. EPA health goal (MCLG): 0.
The 90th-percentile tap result was 7.0 µg/L (below the 15 µg/L action level).
Usually from lead service lines, solder and fixtures inside buildings, after the water leaves treatment.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Lead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 53 (lead)).
9.8 ng/L, sampled 2023-12-06 to 2024-09-05. EPA UCMR 5.
2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit).
Detected at up to 9.8 ng/L (below the 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory; a screening level, not a legal limit).
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFBS named on the listing).
28.8 ng/L, sampled 2023-12-06 to 2024-09-05. EPA UCMR 5.
400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state): a state limit.
Detected at up to 28.8 ng/L (below the 400,000 ng/L historical comparison reference).
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHxA named on the listing).
15.4 ng/L, sampled 2023-12-06 to 2024-09-05. EPA UCMR 5.
No federal limit is on record for it.
Detected at up to 15.4 ng/L. No federal or state limit exists for this substance; shown for transparency, not graded.
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFBA named on the listing).
8.1 ng/L, sampled 2023-12-06 to 2024-09-05. EPA UCMR 5.
No federal limit is on record for it.
Detected at up to 8.1 ng/L. No federal or state limit exists for this substance; shown for transparency, not graded.
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHpA named on the listing).
22.3 ng/L, sampled 2023-12-06 to 2024-09-05. EPA UCMR 5.
No federal limit is on record for it.
Detected at up to 22.3 ng/L. No federal or state limit exists for this substance; shown for transparency, not graded.
Comes with the source water; home plumbing does not add it.
Test your own tap first. To reduce it: Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFPeA named on the listing).
CITY OF LANCASTER (EPA PWSID PA7360058) delivers surface water to 120,000 residents. This report reflects 29 individual PFAS result(s) from the source UCMR5 observations and the latest Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile result. Water hardness and disinfectant type are pending the utility's own annual report.
1health-based violation in the last 10 years
From EPA SDWIS. Counted once per contaminant per year, as in the Track record score.
No result is not a pass. Your utility's annual water quality report may list them, and a certified lab test covers your own tap.
Every filing is listed; the Track record score counts at most one per contaminant per year.
Resolved
to Resolved
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 waterMeasured in this report
Sampled across the system
Not in this record
Only a tap test measures it
Know what comes from your tap, starting with a first-draw lead sample.
Compare each result with its named reference in our test reader.
Choose a technology certified for what your test found.
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 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 (EnviroTestKits)
Lead, read as one of three ranges: 0–4, 5–15 or 15+ ppb
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
| Finding | Reference type | Technology | Certification to check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)23.8 ng/L | Federal MCL | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 (PFOA/PFOS) |
| Lead (90th percentile)7 µg/L | Action level | Lead-certified carbon filter, or reverse osmosis | NSF/ANSI 53 (lead) |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)9.8 ng/L | Screening level | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFBS named on the listing |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)28.8 ng/L | State limit | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHxA named on the listing |
| Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)15.4 ng/L | No federal limit | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFBA named on the listing |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)8.1 ng/L | No federal limit | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFHpA named on the listing |
| Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)22.3 ng/L | No federal limit | Reverse osmosis, or carbon certified for PFAS | NSF/ANSI 53 or 58, with PFPeA named on the listing |
★ Best choice: Aquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200), certified for PFOA and lead.
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter (AQ-5200) | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in Lancaster’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Under-sinkAquasana Claryum 3-Stage Max Flow Under-Sink Filter (AQ-6300M) | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in Lancaster’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | CountertopAquasana Clean Water Machine Countertop Filter (AQ-CWM2) | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in Lancaster’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Also good | Reverse osmosisSmartFlow® Reverse Osmosis | TreatsPFOA and leadTechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53 (includes P473), WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in Lancaster’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P600 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in Lancaster’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | Under-sinkWaterdrop G3P800 Tankless Reverse-Osmosis System | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in Lancaster’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Carafe Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT100) | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in Lancaster’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopAquaTru Classic Countertop Reverse-Osmosis Purifier (AT2000) | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in Lancaster’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | CountertopPatriot Pure Ultimate Water Filtration System | TreatsPFOA and leadPrice$$ | Certified for PFOA (NSF/ANSI 53, NSF, IAPMO) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA, found in Lancaster’s record.See the evidence | Check price on Amazon |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RCC7AK Alkaline Reverse Osmosis SystemUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisiSpring RO5004F Tankless Reverse Osmosis System with UVUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
| Also good | Reverse osmosisWaterdrop X12 Reverse Osmosis System | TechnologyReverse osmosisPrice$$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at Waterdrop |
★ Best choice: HealthShield™, certified for PFOA and Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA).
| Pick | Product | Details and price | Certification | Why it’s listed | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ★ Best choice | Whole-houseHealthShield™ | TreatsPFOA and Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)Price$$$$ | Certified for PFOA and Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) (NSF/ANSI 53, WQA) | Why it’s listed: its current certification names PFOA and Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA), found in Lancaster’s record.See the evidence | Check price at Aquasana |
| $ Budget pick | Whole-houseiSpring WGB32B-PFKS PFAS & Heavy Metals Whole House FilterUse code REFISPRING at checkout: 10% off your first iSpring order. | Price$$$ | Brand lab-tested for PFAS, not independently certified for PFOA, Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS), Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA), Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) and Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | See the evidence | Check price at iSpring |
Also: lead picks →
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
City of Lancaster reported 474 lead service lines to replace in EPA’s inventory (2026Q2). Many utilities replace these lines for free or share the cost. Ask City of Lancaster whether your home’s line is on its list before you pay anyone.
Local help
Call to be connected with a local plumbing provider about lead service lines, repiping or fixture replacement.
Older buildings may have lead service lines, solder or fixtures. Lancaster’s record shows lead at 7 µg/L (15 µg/L federal action level). Test first-draw water, then filter if needed.
6 of 29 PFAS tested were detected in Lancaster’s record (PFOA 23.8 ng/L, PFBS 9.8 ng/L and PFHxA 28.8 ng/L, and more); 1 above its limit. If PFAS matters to you, a filter certification names each compound it covers.
Most utilities keep chlorine or chloramine in the pipes. A carbon filter certified for taste and odor reduces either; your utility can tell you which it uses.
Your utility’s annual water quality report usually lists hardness; a test strip also measures it.
Reverse osmosis reduces many dissolved contaminants, including lead and minerals, at a single faucet, with some water sent to drain.
Get one email when Lancaster’s record changes.
One email when a new sampling round is published, a result moves above or below its reference, or the system's score changes.PurityMap does not give a safe/unsafe verdict; it shows what the public records measured. For Lancaster, PFOA 23.8 ng/L was measured in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024 (not a violation: the limit is judged on a yearly average, due 2029); the lead 90th-percentile result was 7 µg/L against the 15 µg/L action level. CITY OF LANCASTER (PWSID PA7360058) has a Purity Score of 46/100 (confidence: moderate), 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 →
CITY OF LANCASTER (PWS ID PA7360058) is the public water system on record for Lancaster, Pennsylvania, serving about 120,000 people. Confirm the utility on your water bill before acting on a specific finding. Water utility →
Surface water (primary source of record in EPA SDWIS). Water utility →
Yes. In EPA's UCMR 5 testing (2023-12-06 to 2024-09-05), PFOA was measured at 23.8 ng/L in one EPA sample, above the 4 ng/L limit EPA set in 2024. That limit is judged on a yearly average, and water systems have until 2029 to meet it, so a single sample is not a violation. PFBS (9.8 ng/L, below the 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory) and PFHxA (28.8 ng/L, below the 400,000 ng/L state limit) were also detected. PFBA (15.4 ng/L), PFHpA (8.1 ng/L) and PFPeA (22.3 ng/L) were also detected; they have no federal or state limit. Reverse osmosis and filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for PFOA/PFOS reduce them at the tap. What we found →
CITY OF LANCASTER's most recent lead 90th-percentile result (2025) was 7 µg/L, below the 15 µg/L action level. That figure comes from sampled homes; lead usually enters from a building's own pipes and fixtures, so only a test at your tap tells you what you drink. Your household →
PurityMap's current record for Lancaster holds 31 findings: 1 above a reference, 3 detected within the reference, 3 detected with no limit and 24 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 →
| Contaminant | Measured | Reference | Sampled | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) | 23.8 ng/L | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Lead (90th percentile) | 7 µg/L | 15 µg/L federal action level | 2025 | EPA SDWIS (Lead & Copper Rule) ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) | 9.8 ng/L | 2,000 ng/L EPA health advisory (screening, not a legal limit) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) | 28.8 ng/L | 400,000 ng/L Michigan EGLE state MCL (strictest US state) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) | 15.4 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) | 8.1 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) | 22.3 ng/L | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (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 transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA 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 transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA 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 transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA 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 transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA 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 transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA 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 transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA 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) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Lithium | < 9 µg/L (not detected) | 10 µg/L EPA health reference level (screening, not a legal limit) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| N-ethyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NEtFOSAA) | < 5 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| N-methyl perfluorooctanesulfonamidoacetic acid (NMeFOSAA) | < 6 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA 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 transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA 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 transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA) | < 4 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) | < 3 ng/L (not detected) | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) | < 4 ng/L (not detected) | 10 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) | < 4 ng/L (not detected) | 4.0 ng/L federal MCL (2024) | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS) | < 4 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorotetradecanoic acid (PFTA) | < 8 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluorotridecanoic acid (PFTrDA) | < 7 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
| Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA) | < 2 ng/L (not detected) | No federal or state limit; shown for transparency | 2023–2024 | EPA UCMR 5 ↗ (opens in a new tab) |
UCMR5 Analytical Results
UCMR5 Analytical Results: CITY OF LANCASTER (PA7360058)
US EPA
State SDWIS Compliance Record
Lead & Copper Rule 90th-percentile: CITY OF LANCASTER (PA7360058)
US EPA SDWIS
Methodology: how we analyze water. Prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the PurityMap Editorial Team before publication.
EPA SDWIS, EPA UCMR 5 and utility reports, each dated and linked.
Units converted to one basis; a non-detect kept distinct from zero.
Each result tagged by reference type: MCL, action level, screening level or aesthetic.
Every value sits against its own reference, never a blended one.
Measured subjects summarised at the water-system level; an open health-based violation caps the score.
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 LANCASTER · PWSID PA7360058 · Purity Score 46/100 (Poor) · Confidence: moderate · Assessed at the water-system level
Full methodology →Start with the hot-or-cold tap check. Where City of Lancaster reported something related, it's shown below.
Lead at City of Lancaster: 7 µg/L (90th percentile, 2025 monitoring period). Lead has no taste, so a taste neither shows nor rules it out.