Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION
LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 118,000 residents in ALLENTOWN, Pennsylvania using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 610-398-2503.
Is ALLENTOWN tap water safe to drink?
LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION delivers tap water that earns a grade of D (55/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a below-average rating, with multiple concerns including pfas contamination.
The utility serves 118,000 residents in ALLENTOWN, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 14 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Dibromoacetic acid, Dichloroacetic acid, Chromium (hexavalent), Chloroform, Nitrate, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). 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.
Quick actions for ALLENTOWN residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION.
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 18.3 ppb, 305x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 16.3 ppb, 163x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 23.6 ppb, 158x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION
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 ALLENTOWN
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 55/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
18.3 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 305× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
16.3 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 163× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
23.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 158× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 127× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.68 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 77× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.36 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 44× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
1.21 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 40× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.39 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 37× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.637 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 32× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
11.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 29× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.84 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 27× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.738 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 12× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.422 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 4.7× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
0.844 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 2.8× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
143.3 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.173 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Atrazine Pesticide/Herbicide |
0.0246 ppb | 0.1 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 100 | 0.15 | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.068 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
39.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Pentachlorophenol Other |
0.0108 ppb | 0.3 | 1.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.134 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.154 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.29 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
2.2 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.193 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.644 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.233 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.141 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Asbestos Other |
0.09 | — | 7.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
5.51 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.508 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.
LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION service area
This water system serves 1 community in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for ALLENTOWN water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.