Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tap water in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania receives a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT. The most significant water quality concerns are: PFAS contamination; Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline; Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline; Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline. Data sources: EPA SDWIS, EPA ECHO, EWG Tap Water Database.
What's in Philadelphia's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving Philadelphia.
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.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 36.9 ppb, 615x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 34.7 ppb, 347x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 42.3 ppb, 282x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT (system ID PA1510001) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim and Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 06/01/2023 | Resolved |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Recommended filters for Philadelphia
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in Philadelphia's 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.
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 Philadelphia'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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
4.07 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
36.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 615× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
34.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 347× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
42.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 282× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
20.0 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 200× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 167× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.9 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 150× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
29.7 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 74× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.2 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 71× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.46 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.388 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.16 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 15× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.07 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 6.9× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.148 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
280.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.111 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0563 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
37.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.0417 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.95 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.664 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.04 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.84 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.113 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.44 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.51 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0226 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.63 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.152 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1-Butanol Other |
0.239 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.057 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.722 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Ethinyl estradiol Other |
0.1 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.73 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.016 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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 PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT.
General Contact
Treatment Plant
ZIP codes served
Philadelphia's public water systems serve the following ZIP codes: