Tap Water Quality Report
Tap water quality in STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania
Tap water in STATE COLLEGE, Pennsylvania receives a grade of D (65/100) from TapWaterSafety.org. It's served by STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH. 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 STATE COLLEGE's tap water
Top water quality concerns identified by the EPA and Environmental Working Group across the utility serving STATE COLLEGE.
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 3.58 ppb, 60x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 7.2 ppb, 48x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 3.22 ppb, 32x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH (system ID PA4140096) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground Water Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 09/01/2024 | Resolved |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 11/01/2025 | Resolved |
| Volatile Organic Chemicals | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2023 | Resolved |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Missed reporting | 09/11/2023 | Resolved |
| Inorganic Chemicals | Missed testing or reporting | 01/01/2023 | 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 STATE COLLEGE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in STATE COLLEGE'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 STATE COLLEGE'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 |
3.58 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 60× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
7.2 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 48× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
3.22 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 32× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.67 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 28× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.73 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 27× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.367 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 18× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
2.89 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
4.86 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
0.679 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 6.8× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.474 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.7× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.138 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 1.5× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.119 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
16.4 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.00642 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.00828 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.185 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.05 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.0638 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.0876 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.0681 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 STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH.