States ›Pennsylvania ›Carbon County ›Lower Towamensing

Lower Towamensing, PA Tap Water Quality 2026

Water quality report for Lower Towamensing, PA — PFAS, lead and copper results, violation history and state inspection findings from EPA SDWIS.

A look at Lower Towamensing's drinking water using EPA enforcement records: violations, lead and copper results, PFAS sampling and state inspection findings.

Main Utility: Palmerton Municipal Authority PWSID: PA3130012 Updated: 2026 Q2
⚠️

PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points

Lead was not detected and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points, running as high as 9.95 times the limit.

F

Lower Towamensing earns an F for water quality

Graded on violations, lead, and PFAS, with state inspection findings.

Lead: not detected
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points
49 violations since 2015, 1 health-based
No violations currently open
Lower Towamensing's lead level vs. all Pennsylvania community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: Not detected — 0% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than % of Pennsylvania utilities
Population Served
469
~2245 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
49 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
0% of EPA action level
Not detected
Action level: 15 ppb
Copper (Cu)
90th percentile of tap samples. SDWIS reports a copper figure only when a system exceeds the action level, so any value here is an exceedance.
111.5% of EPA action level
1,450 ppb
Action level: 1,300 ppb
Lead was not detected at the 90th percentile — the result fell below the laboratory detection limit. That is not the same as an absence of lead in every tap, and older homes with lead service lines can still show higher readings. Copper reached the action level here; a copper figure appears in SDWIS only when a system triggers it.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Groundwater Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2025 Archived
Groundwater Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2024 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule REPORTING FAILURE — — 2023 Resolved
Lead and Copper Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — TT 2022 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2022 Resolved
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Groundwater Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2022 Resolved
Groundwater Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2022 Resolved
Nitrate MONITORING AND REPORTING — 10 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Nitrite MONITORING AND REPORTING — 1 mg/L 2022 Resolved
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.07 mg/L 2022 Resolved
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.07 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Xylenes, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 10 mg/L 2022 Resolved
DICHLOROMETHANE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2022 Resolved
o-Dichlorobenzene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.6 mg/L 2022 Resolved
p-Dichlorobenzene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.075 mg/L 2022 Resolved
1,1-Dichloroethylene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.007 mg/L 2022 Resolved
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2022 Resolved
1,2-Dichloroethane MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2022 Resolved
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.2 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Carbon tetrachloride MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2022 Resolved
1,2-Dichloropropane MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Trichloroethylene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2022 Resolved
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Tetrachloroethylene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2022 Resolved
CHLOROBENZENE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Benzene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Toluene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 1 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Ethylbenzene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.7 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Styrene MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Nitrate MONITORING AND REPORTING — 10 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Nitrite MONITORING AND REPORTING — 1 mg/L 2022 Resolved
Arsenic MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.010 mg/L 2021 Resolved
Barium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 2 mg/L 2021 Resolved
Cadmium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2021 Resolved
Chromium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2021 Resolved
Mercury MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2021 Resolved
Nickel MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2021 Resolved
Selenium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.05 mg/L 2021 Resolved
Beryllium, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.004 mg/L 2021 Resolved
Consumer Confidence Rule OTHER — — 2020 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2020 Resolved
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Asbestos MONITORING AND REPORTING — 7 MFL 2020–2022 Resolved
Asbestos MONITORING AND REPORTING — 7 MFL 2020–2022 Resolved
Groundwater Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2018 Resolved
Diquat MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.02 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Endothall MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2017 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule OTHER — — 2016 Resolved
Understanding violation types MCL violations mean a contaminant exceeded the federal maximum limit — the most serious type.
TT (Treatment Technique) violations mean required treatment procedures weren't followed, but don't necessarily mean contamination occurred.

Violation History

49 violations are on record since 2015, of which 1 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Palmerton Municipal Authority
PWSID PA3130012
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 469
Service connections 2,245
Systems serving this area 6
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Lower Towamensing tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points. No violations are currently open.
Does Lower Towamensing water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 2 sampling points, running as high as 9.95 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Lower Towamensing? ▼
Palmerton Municipal Authority (PWSID PA3130012), one of 6 systems serving this area. Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-10-16. Inspectors recorded 1 significant deficiency.

What Should Lower Towamensing Residents Do?

1
Consider a reverse-osmosis filter
Reverse osmosis removes more than 95% of PFAS. Standard carbon pitchers do not.
2
Check for a lead service line
Lead reaches tap water mainly through service lines and household plumbing. Suppliers now publish an inventory identifying lead lines.
3
Flush before drinking
If water has sat in pipes more than six hours, run the cold tap for two minutes before drinking or cooking.

Nearby Cities in Pennsylvania

Palmerton, Pa Tap Water Quality 2026 Carbon Lehighton, Pa Tap Water Quality 2026 Carbon Lansford, Pa Tap Water Quality 2026 Carbon Nesquehoning, Pa Tap Water Quality 2026 Carbon Summit Hill, Pa Tap Water Quality 2026 Carbon Weatherly, Pa Tap Water Quality 2026 Carbon