We read 12 results from Ephrata Area Joint Authority’s 2025 water quality report. No results over a legal limit; 3 above a health goal or guideline.
Serves about 24,500 people · Water system ID PA7360045 · 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 3 | 1.07 ppb | 0.2 ppb | 15 ppb (action level) | Above the health goal5.4x the health goal |
| PFOA (a PFAS)highest measured · range 2.8 to 3.7 · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 3.7 ppt | 0.007 ppt | 14 ppt (Pennsylvania) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal529x the health goal |
| PFOS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 2.5 · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 2.5 ppt | 1 ppt | 18 ppt (Pennsylvania) now; 4 ppt from 2029 | Above the health goal2.5x the health goal |
| Chlorineas reported · range 0.41 to 2.95 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 4 | 2.95 ppm | None set | 4 ppm | Below the legal limit |
| Copper90th percentile of 30 homes tested, 0 over the action level · Customer taps · 2025 report, page 3 | 0.11 ppm | 0.3 ppm | 1.3 ppm (action level) | Below the health goal |
| Disinfection byproducts (HAA5)highest running annual average · range 5.25 to 31.4 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 4 | 31.4 ppb | None set | 60 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Disinfection byproducts (TTHM)highest running annual average · range 10.1 to 69.8 · Distribution system · 2025 report, page 4 | 69.8 ppb | None set | 80 ppb | Below the legal limit |
| Nitrate (as N)highest measured · range ND to 6.96 · Entry point · 2025 report, page 3 | 6.96 ppm | 10 ppm | 10 ppm | Below the health goal |
| PFHxS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 1.9 · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 1.9 ppt | None set | 10 ppt from 2029 | Below the legal limit |
| Turbidity (cloudiness)highest measured · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 0.06 NTU | None set | 1 NTU | Below the legal limit |
| Alkalinityhighest measured · range 128 to 189 · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 189 ppm | None set | None | No health limit |
| PFBS (a PFAS)highest measured · range ND to 5.2 · Entry point · 2025 report, page 4 | 5.2 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 Ephrata Area Joint Authority’s water between Jun 2024 and Mar 2025. These are EPA lab results, separate from the district’s report. Anything not listed was not detected.
- PFOA5.8 pptFound in 4 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFOS4.6 pptFound in 1 of 8 samples · highest resultAbove the federal limit that takes effect in 2029 (4 ppt)
- PFHxS3.6 pptFound in 1 of 8 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- PFBS6.3 pptFound in 6 of 8 samples · highest resultNo federal limit in force for this one
- Lithium9.45 ppbFound in 2 of 8 samples · highest resultBelow EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb
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.
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.
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