We read 18 results from Bcwsa Main Lower South’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 5 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 52,621 people · Water system ID PA1090079 · Read the district’s 2025 report (opens in a new tab)
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bromatehighest running annual average · range ND to 4.5 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 9 | 2.7 ppb | 0.1 ppb | 10 ppb | Above the health goal27x the health goal |
| Gross alpha (radioactivity)highest measured · range ND to 0.25 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2023 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 11 | 0.25 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 15 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| PFOA (a PFAS)as reported · range ND to 7.15 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 12 | 3.98 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 14 ppt (Pennsylvania) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal569x the health goal |
| PFOS (a PFAS)as reported · range ND to 6.87 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 12 | 4.44 ppt | 1 ppt | 18 ppt (Pennsylvania) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the federal limit that takes effect in 20291.1x 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 (combined 226 + 228)highest measured · range ND to 1.18 · listed as a violation in the report · sampled 2024 · Entry points · 2025 report, page 11 | 1.18 pCi/L | 0 pCi/L | 5 pCi/L | Above the health goalThe health goal is zero |
| Bariumhighest measured · range 0.02 to 0.02 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 9 | 0.02 ppm | 2 ppm | 2 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Chlorinehighest measured · range 0.62 to 1.28 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 9 | 1.28 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Chromium (total)highest measured · range ND to 1.9 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 9 | 1.9 ppb | None set | 100 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of 32 homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 10 | 0.13 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 6.4 to 50 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 9 | 41 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 9.4 to 63.4 · listed as a violation in the report · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 9 | 43.1 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Fluorideas reported · range 0.11 to 0.81 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 9 | 0.57 ppm | 1 ppm | 4 ppm | Below the health goal |
| Lead90th percentile of 32 homes tested, 0 over the action level · listed as a violation in the report · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 10 | Not detected | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Not detected |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range 0.39 to 1.2 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 9 | 1.2 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 5.99 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 12 | 5.99 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · listed as a violation in the report · Treatment plant · 2025 report, page 10 | 0.07 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| Nickelhighest measured · range ND to 2.5 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 9 | 2.5 ppb | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 2.19 · listed as a violation in the report · Entry points · 2025 report, page 12 | 2.19 ppt | None set | None | No health limit |
Utility results describe the whole system, measured where water enters the pipes, not your tap. Your home’s plumbing can add lead or copper.
EPA testing for PFAS and lithium
EPA’s own nationwide testing (UCMR 5) found these in Bcwsa Main Lower South’s water between Feb 2024 and Nov 2024. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA7.3 pptFound in 6 of 16 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS6.9 pptFound in 4 of 16 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS4.8 pptFound in 4 of 16 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS5.6 pptFound in 4 of 16 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
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 (combined 226 + 228)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
PFAS ("forever chemicals")
Found: PFOA (a PFAS), PFOS (a PFAS), PFOA (EPA testing), PFOS (EPA testing)
What removes it: Reverse osmosis.
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