Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
AQUA PA MAIN SYSTEM
AQUA PA MAIN SYSTEM delivers tap water graded F (43/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 822,600 residents in BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Arsenic significantly above health guideline. For questions, the utility can be reached at 610-645-1122.
Is BRYN MAWR tap water safe to drink?
AQUA PA MAIN SYSTEM delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (43/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 822,600 residents in BRYN MAWR, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 19 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Arsenic, Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane, Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, Nitrate, Dibromoacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Radium, combined (-226 and -228). For most residents, a properly certified home filter at the kitchen tap is the most cost-effective way to reduce exposure to whatever's in your water. See our filter recommendations below, matched specifically to this utility's contaminant profile.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for AQUA PA MAIN SYSTEM (system ID PA1460073) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 09/01/2025 | Resolved |
| Arsenic Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2024 | Resolved |
| Inorganic Chemicals | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2024 | Resolved |
| Radionuclides and Revised Rad Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 10/01/2023 | Resolved |
| Public Notice Rule and Revised PN Rule | Other (e.g. public notice) | 11/13/2024 | Resolved |
| Ground Water Rule | Required treatment not met | 11/01/2024 | Resolved |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for BRYN MAWR residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for AQUA PA MAIN SYSTEM.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) detected at 1.15 ppt, 1152x above the EWG health guideline of 0.001 ppt.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 32.5 ppb, 542x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Arsenic significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernArsenic detected at 0.866 ppb, 216x above the EWG health guideline of 0.004 ppb.
Contact AQUA PA MAIN SYSTEM
Reach the utility directly for service issues, water quality concerns, or to request your Consumer Confidence Report.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
Recommended water filters for BRYN MAWR
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
Filter certified for PFOA/PFOS (NSF/ANSI 53 or 58)
$180-$750Reverse osmosis and some carbon block filters reduce PFAS. Look for certification to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA/PFOS.
Carbon filter certified for VOCs (NSF/ANSI 53)
$180-$599Activated carbon is effective for disinfection byproducts. Look for NSF/ANSI 53 VOC reduction.
Reverse osmosis certified for arsenic (NSF/ANSI 58)
$429-$599Reverse osmosis certified under NSF/ANSI 58 for arsenic is the most reliable home option.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 43/100 breaks down across five weighted components. Read the full methodology →
Contaminants detected — international standards comparison
Every contaminant detected, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal (the strictest US benchmark). Why we show multiple standards →
| Contaminant | Detected | EWG US health-based |
EPA US legal |
EU DWD Europe |
WHO global |
CA PHG strictest US |
Tested sample year |
Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHXS) PFAS |
1.15 ppt | 0.001 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 1152× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
32.5 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 542× over |
| Arsenic Heavy metal |
0.866 ppb | 0.004 | 10.0 | 10 | 10 | 0.004 | — | 216× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
21.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 215× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
30.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 206× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
9.57 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 160× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
10.6 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 106× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.545 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 91× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
9.87 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 49× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
17.9 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 45× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
3.19 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 32× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
2.56 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 28× over |
| 1,2,3-Trichloropropane Other |
0.0168 ppb | 0.0007 | — | — | — | — | — | 24× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.41 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 24× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.683 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 23× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.279 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.507 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 8.5× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.826 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 2.8× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.14 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 2.7× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
119.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.185 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.211 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0874 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | Below guideline |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.05 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
74.9 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.0893 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.461 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
2.05 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.592 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cyanide (free) Inorganic |
1.35 ppb | 150.0 | — | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.331 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.94 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.95 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,1-Dichloroethane Volatile organic compound |
0.00952 ppb | 3.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.96 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.62 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.15 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.163 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.64 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
0.0211 ppb | — | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0523 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
All values in the unit of the detected level. Red cells indicate the detected level exceeds that standard. Some contaminants have limits in some jurisdictions but not others (shown as —). The "Tested" column shows the year each contaminant sample was collected.
Sources: US EPA, EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184, WHO Guidelines (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
AQUA PA MAIN SYSTEM service area
This water system serves 1 community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for BRYN MAWR water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.