Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON
PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON delivers tap water graded C (65/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 134,570 residents in WILKES BARRE, Pennsylvania using surface water. The most significant water quality concerns are: 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 570-829-5398.
Is WILKES BARRE tap water safe to drink?
PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON delivers tap water that earns a grade of C (65/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — an average rating, with several contaminants above health guidelines but generally compliant with US legal limits.
The utility serves 134,570 residents in WILKES BARRE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Nitrate, Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene), Trichloroethylene, Chromium (hexavalent), Dibromoacetic acid, Uranium, Radium, combined (-226 and -228). 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 WILKES BARRE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON.
Haloacetic acids (HAA9) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA9) detected at 31.9 ppb, 531x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 37.1 ppb, 371x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 44.6 ppb, 298x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON
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 WILKES BARRE
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this water supply.
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 65/100 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 |
31.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 531× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
37.1 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 371× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
44.6 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 298× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
21.0 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 210× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
7.2 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 120× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
36.0 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 90× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
16.0 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 80× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.37 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 14× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
1.21 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 8.6× over |
| Tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene) Volatile organic compound |
0.508 ppb | 0.06 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 8.5× over |
| Trichloroethylene Volatile organic compound |
1.14 ppb | 0.4 | 5.0 | 10 | 20 | 1.7 | — | 2.9× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.0557 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.8× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0698 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 2.3× over |
| Uranium Radiological |
0.75 pCi/L | 0.43 | 20.0 | 30 | 30 | 0.43 | — | 1.7× over |
| Radium, combined (-226 and -228) Radiological |
0.08 pCi/L | 0.05 | 5.0 | — | — | — | — | 1.6× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
157.7 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
42.4 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
258.3 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0365 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.014 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Selenium Heavy metal |
0.167 ppb | 30.0 | 50.0 | 20 | 40 | 30 | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0781 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Vanadium Other |
0.0161 ppb | 21.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
1.09 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Cobalt Other |
0.0464 ppb | 70.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.05 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Bromomethane Other |
0.025 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.00917 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Germanium Other |
1.6 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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.
PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON service area
This water system serves 1 community in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for WILKES BARRE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.