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Briar Creek, PA Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Pa American Water Berwick PWSID: PA4190013 Updated: 2026 Q2
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PFAS above the federal limit

Lead is 0.90 ppb, 6% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 1.89 times the limit.

B

Briar Creek earns a B for water quality

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

Lead: 0.90 ppb — 6% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points
2 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Briar Creek's lead level vs. all Pennsylvania community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 0.90 ppb — 6% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 96% of Pennsylvania utilities
Population Served
549
~6255 connections
Water Source
Groundwater
Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Active Violations
0
2 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
6% of EPA action level
0.90 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 0.90 ppb, 6% of the 15 ppb federal action level. The action level is a treatment trigger, not a legal maximum, and it is measured across sampled taps rather than at any single home.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Revised Total Coliform Rule REPORTING FAILURE — — 2023 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule REPORTING FAILURE — — 2023 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

2 violations are on record since 2015, of which 0 were health-based. All have been resolved and none remain open.

About the Main Water System

Utility Pa American Water Berwick
PWSID PA4190013
Water source Groundwater — Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
Population served 549
Service connections 6,255
Systems serving this area 1
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Briar Creek tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 0.90 ppb, 6% of the action level.
Does Briar Creek water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 1 of 1 sampling points, running as high as 1.89 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Briar Creek? ▼
Pa American Water Berwick (PWSID PA4190013). Groundwater. Drawn from wells — SDWIS source code GW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2023-12-08. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Briar Creek 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.

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