We read 13 results from Ambler Boro Water Dept’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 10 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 20,000 people · Water system ID PA1460020 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
Open this district in the water lookupCompare with your own test results, see the district map and get matched filters.
Results from the 2025 report
Each number is copied from the district’s report and links to the page it’s printed on. Where the report lists several plants, wells or purchased water, the highest is shown.
| Contaminant | Result | Health goal | Legal limit | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenichighest measured · range ND to 2 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 2 ppb | 0.004 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal500x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)highest measured · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 3 | 9.39 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Ironhighest measured · range ND to 0.41 · printed as 410 ppb · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.41 ppm | — | 0.3 ppm guideline | Above the guideline1.4x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| Lead90th percentile of homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 3 | 2.3 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal11x the health goal |
| Manganesehighest measured · range ND to 0.22 · printed as 217 ppb · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.22 ppm | — | 0.05 ppm guideline | Above the guideline4.3x the guideline (taste, odor or stains; not a health limit) |
| PFOA (a PFAS)average · range 5.8 to 11.6 · 2025 report, page 3 | 8.6 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 14 ppt (Pennsylvania) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20292.2x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029; below the 14 ppt Pennsylvania limitNot a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| PFOS (a PFAS)average · range ND to 10.7 · 2025 report, page 3 | 7.71 ppt | 1 ppt | 18 ppt (Pennsylvania) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.9x the 4 ppt federal limit that takes effect in 2029; below the 18 ppt Pennsylvania limitNot a violation yet: EPA's 4 ppt limit is final, but water systems don't have to meet it until 2029. |
| Radium-226highest measured · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 3 | 1.17 pCi/L | 0.05 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goal23x the health goal |
| Radium-228highest measured · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 3 | 1 pCi/L | 0.02 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goal53x the health goal |
| Uraniumhighest measured · range 1.7 to 10.9 · printed as 7.32 pCi/L · sampled 2023 · 2025 report, page 3 | 10.9 ppb | 0.6 ppb | 30 ppb | Above the health goal18x the health goal |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.04 to 0.41 · sampled 2024 · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.41 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range ND to 19.8 · 2025 report, page 3 | 10.5 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 1.55 to 2.71 · 2025 report, page 3 | 2.71 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper. 2 numbers we weren’t sure about are held back until a person checks.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Ambler Boro Water Dept’s water between Aug 2024 and May 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA15.3 pptFound in 16 of 20 samples · highest resultHighest sample is above the 14 ppt Pennsylvania limit. Compliance is judged on averages, not one sample.
- PFOS13.7 pptFound in 16 of 20 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS5 pptFound in 12 of 20 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFNA13.5 pptFound in 3 of 20 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS9.2 pptFound in 17 of 20 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- Lithium22.4 ppbFound in 14 of 20 samples · highest resultAbove EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb (a guide, not a legal limit)
Source: EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data. The highest single result is shown; one high sample doesn’t mean every glass is that high.
What you can do
Nothing here is an emergency notice: if the district has a violation, it must tell customers directly. If you’d like to lower these at your tap, these are the treatments that remove them, and the catalog shows the models certified for each. Ranking is by certified removal; commissions never change the order.
Radium and uranium
Found: Gross alpha (radioactivity), Radium-226, Radium-228, Uranium
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
Sediment or cloudy water
Found: Iron, Manganese
What removes it: Oxidation filter.
Lead
Found: Lead
What removes it: Certified carbon block or RO.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
More districts: Pennsylvania water quality · All states · Something look wrong? Tell us