States ›Pennsylvania ›Philadelphia County ›Philadelphia

Philadelphia, PA Tap Water Quality 2026

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

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

Main Utility: Philadelphia Water Department PWSID: PA1510001 Updated: 2026 Q2
⚠️

PFAS above the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points

Lead is 2.00 ppb, 13% of the action level and no violations are open. However, PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points, running as high as 1.84 times the limit.

B

Philadelphia earns a B for water quality

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

Lead: 2.00 ppb — 13% of the federal action level
PFAS above the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points
9 violations since 2015, 0 health-based
No violations currently open
Philadelphia's lead level vs. all Pennsylvania community water systems
0 ppb5 ppb10 ppb15 ppb
Lead level: 2.00 ppb — 13% of the federal action level
✓ Lower lead than 72% of Pennsylvania utilities
Population Served
1588573
~524021 connections
Water Source
Surface water
Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Active Violations
0
9 since 2015, all resolved

Lead & Copper Testing

Lead (Pb)
90th percentile of tap samples collected across the distribution system
13% of EPA action level
2.00 ppb
Action level: 15 ppb
The 90th-percentile lead result is 2.00 ppb, 13% 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
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2026 Archived
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2025 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2024 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2023 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2022 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2018 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2016 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 2016 Resolved
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MONITORING AND REPORTING — — 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

9 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 Philadelphia Water Department
PWSID PA1510001
Water source Surface water — Drawn from surface water — SDWIS source code SW
Population served 1,588,573
Service connections 524,021
Systems serving this area 3
Regulator State primacy agency
Data through 2026 Q2 — EPA SDWIS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Philadelphia tap water safe to drink? ▼
It meets most federal standards, but PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points. No violations are currently open. Lead is 2.00 ppb, 13% of the action level.
Does Philadelphia water have PFAS? ▼
Yes. PFAS exceeds the federal limit at 2 of 3 sampling points, running as high as 1.84 times the limit. Limits are enforced on a running annual average at each sampling point, not on a single sample.
Who supplies water to Philadelphia? ▼
Philadelphia Water Department (PWSID PA1510001), one of 3 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 2025-12-31. No significant deficiencies were recorded.

What Should Philadelphia 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