Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT
PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water graded F (50/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 1,600,000 residents in PHILADELPHIA, 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 215-685-6257.
Is PHILADELPHIA tap water safe to drink?
PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT delivers tap water that earns a grade of F (50/100) from TapWaterSafety.org — a poor rating, with significant contamination concerns and/or recent violations.
The utility serves 1,600,000 residents in PHILADELPHIA, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 15 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Trichloroacetic acid, Bromodichloromethane, Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Chloroform, Dichloroacetic acid, Dibromochloromethane, Chromium (hexavalent), Nitrate, Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), Dibromoacetic acid, Chlorate. 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.
EPA compliance record
Official U.S. EPA records for PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT (system ID PA1510001) for the last 3 years. Checked 2026-10-07.
| Rule | Type | Since | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interim and Long Term 1 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Missed testing or reporting | 06/01/2023 | Resolved |
Source: U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO), from the Safe Drinking Water Information System. See EPA's full report.
Quick actions for PHILADELPHIA residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT.
PFAS contamination
Severe concernPerfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) 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 36.9 ppb, 615x above the EWG health guideline of 0.06 ppb.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernHaloacetic acids (HAA5) detected at 34.7 ppb, 347x above the EWG health guideline of 0.1 ppb.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) significantly above health guideline
Moderate concernTotal trihalomethanes (TTHMs) detected at 42.3 ppb, 282x above the EWG health guideline of 0.15 ppb.
Contact PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT
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 PHILADELPHIA
Filters matched to the specific contaminants in this 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.
Score breakdown
This utility's overall score of 50/100 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) PFAS |
4.07 ppt | 0.09 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 0.007 | — | EPA violation |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA9) Disinfection byproduct |
36.9 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 615× over |
| Haloacetic acids (HAA5) Disinfection byproduct |
34.7 ppb | 0.1 | 60.0 | 60 | — | — | — | 347× over |
| Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) Disinfection byproduct |
42.3 ppb | 0.15 | 80.0 | 100 | — | — | — | 282× over |
| Trichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
20.0 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 200× over |
| Bromodichloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
10.0 ppb | 0.06 | — | — | — | — | — | 167× over |
| Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) PFAS |
0.9 ppt | 0.006 | 10.0 | — | — | — | — | 150× over |
| Chloroform Disinfection byproduct |
29.7 ppb | 0.4 | — | — | — | — | — | 74× over |
| Dichloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
14.2 ppb | 0.2 | — | — | — | — | — | 71× over |
| Dibromochloromethane Disinfection byproduct |
2.46 ppb | 0.1 | — | — | — | — | — | 25× over |
| Chromium (hexavalent) Heavy metal |
0.388 ppb | 0.02 | — | — | — | — | — | 19× over |
| Nitrate Inorganic |
2.16 ppm | 0.14 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 11.3 | 10 | — | 15× over |
| Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) PFAS |
2.07 ppt | 0.3 | 4.0 | 100 | 100 | 1 | — | 6.9× over |
| Dibromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.148 ppb | 0.03 | — | — | — | — | — | 4.9× over |
| Chlorate Disinfection byproduct |
280.8 ppb | 210.0 | — | — | — | — | — | 1.3× over |
| 1,4-Dioxane Semi-volatile organic compound |
0.111 ppb | 0.35 | — | — | 50 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Bromoform Disinfection byproduct |
0.0563 ppb | 0.5 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Barium Heavy metal |
37.8 ppb | 700.0 | 2000.0 | — | 1300 | 2000 | — | Below guideline |
| Antimony Heavy metal |
0.0417 ppb | 1.0 | 6.0 | 10 | 20 | 1 | — | Below guideline |
| Manganese Heavy metal |
1.95 ppb | 100.0 | — | 50 | 80 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monochloroacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.664 ppb | 53.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoropentanoic Acid (PFPeA) PFAS |
4.04 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorohexanoic Acid (PFHxA) PFAS |
3.84 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Molybdenum Other |
0.113 ppb | 40.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutanoic Acid (PFBA) PFAS |
1.44 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) PFAS |
2.51 ppt | 2000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Monobromoacetic acid Disinfection byproduct |
0.0226 ppb | 25.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHPA) PFAS |
0.63 ppt | 1000.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Strontium Radiological |
0.152 ppb | 1500.0 | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 1-Butanol Other |
0.239 ppb | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| 4-Androstene-3,17-dione Other |
0.057 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Chromium (total) Heavy metal |
0.722 ppb | — | 100.0 | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Ethinyl estradiol Other |
0.1 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | Below guideline |
| Fluoride Inorganic |
0.73 ppm | — | 4.0 | 1.5 | 1.5 | — | — | Below guideline |
| Testosterone Other |
0.016 ppt | — | — | — | — | — | — | 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.
PHILADELPHIA WATER DEPARTMENT service area
This water system serves 1 community in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for PHILADELPHIA water
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