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Upper Darby, PA Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Aqua Pa Main System PWSID: PA1460073 Updated: 2026 Q2
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PFAS above the federal limit at 13 of 19 sampling points

Lead was not detected and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 13 of 19 sampling points, running as high as 2.95 times the limit.

C

Upper Darby earns a C for water quality

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

Lead: not detected
PFAS above the federal limit at 13 of 19 sampling points
48 violations since 2015, 2 health-based
No violations currently open
Upper Darby'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
85587
~304127 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
48 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
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.

Contaminant Violations (2015–Present)

ContaminantTypeMeasuredLimitPeriodStatus
Chlorite MONITORING AND REPORTING — 1.0 mg/L 2025 Resolved
Public Notice OTHER — — 2024 Resolved
Groundwater Rule TREATMENT TECHNIQUE — — 2024 Resolved
Arsenic MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.010 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Barium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 2 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Cadmium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Chromium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2024 Resolved
CYANIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.2 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Fluoride MONITORING AND REPORTING — 4.0 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Mercury MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Nickel MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2024 Resolved
Selenium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.05 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Antimony, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.006 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Beryllium, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.004 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Thallium, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Arsenic MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.010 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Barium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 2 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Cadmium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.005 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Chromium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.1 mg/L 2024 Resolved
CYANIDE MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.2 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Fluoride MONITORING AND REPORTING — 4.0 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Mercury MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Nickel MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2024 Resolved
Selenium MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.05 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Antimony, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.006 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Beryllium, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.004 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Thallium, Total MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.002 mg/L 2024 Resolved
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MONITORING AND REPORTING — 15 pCi/L 2023 Resolved
Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2023 Resolved
Chlorite MONITORING AND REPORTING — 1.0 mg/L 2021 Resolved
2,3,7,8-TCDD MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00000003 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0005 mg/L 2020 Resolved
2,3,7,8-TCDD MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00000003 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0005 mg/L 2020 Resolved
2,3,7,8-TCDD MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00000003 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0005 mg/L 2020 Resolved
2,3,7,8-TCDD MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00000003 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0005 mg/L 2020 Resolved
2,3,7,8-TCDD MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00000003 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0005 mg/L 2020 Resolved
2,3,7,8-TCDD MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.00000003 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.0005 mg/L 2020 Resolved
Chlorite MONITORING AND REPORTING — 1.0 mg/L 2019 Resolved
Chlorite MONITORING AND REPORTING — 1.0 mg/L 2018 Resolved
Groundwater Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2018 Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule MCL EXCEEDANCE — — 2017 Resolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.060 mg/L 2015 Resolved
TTHM MONITORING AND REPORTING — 0.080 mg/L 2015 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

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

About the Main Water System

Utility Aqua Pa Main System
PWSID PA1460073
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 85,587
Service connections 304,127
Systems serving this area 2
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Upper Darby tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 13 of 19 sampling points. No violations are currently open.
Does Upper Darby water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 13 of 19 sampling points, running as high as 2.95 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Upper Darby? ▼
Aqua Pa Main System (PWSID PA1460073), one of 2 systems serving this area. Surface water. Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
When was this system last inspected? ▼
It was last inspected on 2025-03-14. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Upper Darby 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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