Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in READING, Pennsylvania
Tap water in READING, Pennsylvania receives a grade of D (64/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY. 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 READING's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving READING.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorooctanoic 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 31.6 ppb, 527x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 35.5 ppb, 355x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 45.9 ppb, 306x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY (system ID PA3060059) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Required treatment not met | 04/01/2025 | 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 READING
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in READING'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 READING'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 |
6.23 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
31.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 527× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
35.5 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 355× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
45.9 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 306× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
19.0 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 190× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.06 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 118× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
38.1 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 95× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
15.6 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 78× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.66 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 19× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.396 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.697 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 7.0× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0994 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 5.0× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.19 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 3.7× over |
| Cyanide (free) Inorganic |
14.3 ppb | 150.0 | — | 50 | 70 | 150 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.00729 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.22 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.427 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.47 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.93 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
5.0 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
1.0 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.123 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.26 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 READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY.