Water Quality Report · Updated October 07, 2026
STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH
STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH delivers tap water graded C (65/100) by TapWaterSafety.org. The utility serves approximately 72,000 residents in STATE COLLEGE, 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 814-238-6766.
Is STATE COLLEGE tap water safe to drink?
STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH 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 72,000 residents in STATE COLLEGE, drawing from surface water.
Public testing data identifies 11 contaminants in this water above EWG's health-based guidelines, including: Haloacetic acids (HAA9), Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs), Haloacetic acids (HAA5), Bromodichloromethane, Nitrate, Chromium (hexavalent), Dichloroacetic acid, Chloroform, Dibromochloromethane, Trichloroacetic acid, 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.
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.
Quick actions for STATE COLLEGE residents
Top concerns in this water
Based on the most recent EPA and EWG data, these are the most significant water quality issues for STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH.
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.
Contact STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH
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 STATE COLLEGE
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 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 |
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 (4th ed.), California OEHHA PHGs, EWG Tap Water Database.
STATE COLLEGE BORO WATER AUTH service area
This water system serves 1 community in Centre County, Pennsylvania. Click any city for its dedicated tap water quality page.
Find the right filter for STATE COLLEGE water
Browse filter categories by water-quality concern. Each option below is NSF-certified for the matched contaminant type.