Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in MECHANICSBURG, Pennsylvania
Tap water in MECHANICSBURG, Pennsylvania receives a grade of F (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by PA AMERICAN WATER CO WEST. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in MECHANICSBURG's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving MECHANICSBURG.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) detected. PFAS are persistent chemicals linked to cancer and immune effects with no known safe exposure threshold.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 15.6 ppb, 260x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 23.0 ppb, 153x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 13.6 ppb, 136x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Recommended filters for MECHANICSBURG
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in MECHANICSBURG's water supply.
Reverse Osmosis or NSF P473 certified carbon
$80-$750Activated carbon and RO are the only technologies proven to remove PFAS at certified levels.
Carbon block (NSF/ANSI 42 + 53)
$40-$750Activated carbon is highly effective for disinfection byproducts like TTHM and HAA5.
Disclosure: TapWaterSafety earns a commission from purchases made through these links. This does not influence our scoring methodology or filter selection.
All contaminants detected in MECHANICSBURG's tap water
Every contaminant identified, compared side-by-side against US EPA legal limits, the EU Drinking Water Directive (2020/2184), WHO Guidelines, and California's Public Health Goal. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
15.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 260× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
23.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 153× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
13.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 136× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.93 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 82× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
16.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 41× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.17 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.12 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 22× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.33 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.208 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.79 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 9.3× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.7 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 7.8× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.025 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
32.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0163 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.3 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.114 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.109 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.567 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.457 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.178 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.552 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, California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
Treatment plant contact info
For service issues, water quality concerns, or to request a Consumer Confidence Report from PA AMERICAN WATER CO WEST.