Water Quality Report · Updated May 12, 2026
PA AMERICAN WATER CO WEST
PA AMERICAN WATER CO WEST delivers tap water graded D (55/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 105,127 residents in MECHANICSBURG, Pennsylvania using surface water. 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. For questions, the utility can be reached at 717-774-2420.
Is MECHANICSBURG tap water safe to drink?
PA AMERICAN WATER CO WEST 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 105,127 residents in MECHANICSBURG, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 12 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Nitrate, Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). 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 MECHANICSBURG 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 AMERICAN WATER CO WEST.
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 15.6 ppb, 260x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 23.0 ppb, 153x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 13.6 ppb, 136x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Contact PA AMERICAN WATER CO WEST
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 MECHANICSBURG
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 |
15.6 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 260× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
23.0 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 153× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
13.6 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 136× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
4.93 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 82× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
6.3 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 63× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
16.5 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 41× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
7.17 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 36× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
3.12 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 22× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
1.33 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 13× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.208 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 10× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.79 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 9.3× over |
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
0.7 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | 7.8× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.025 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
32.5 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.0163 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.3 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.114 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
0.109 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
0.567 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
0.457 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.178 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.552 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.
PA AMERICAN WATER CO WEST service area
This water system serves 1 community in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for MECHANICSBURG water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.