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Community Water System · PWS PA1150098

Aqua PA West Chester

Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 19010 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 48,600 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

48,600
People served
188
EPA violations
2
Health-based
5 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 188 drinking-water violations at Aqua PA West Chester, 1% of them health-based - above the Pennsylvania per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.

188
Total EPA violations on record
1%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
48,600
People served by this system
5
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Aqua PA West Chester

Aqua PA West Chester is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 48,600 residents in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (Chester County) through 13,412 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 188 total violations for this system , of which 2 (1%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 184 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2023.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 11 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 5 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 7.4 ppt (parts per trillion). PFAS are persistent synthetic chemicals linked to health effects at very low exposure levels.

Across Pennsylvania, EPA tracks 7,701 public water systems serving 12,630,061 people, with 1,159,868 cumulative violations and 68,517 health-based violations on record. About 97% of systems in the state carry at least one violation, and state-wide the average per system is 150.6 violations. Statewide, 224 of 389 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (57.6%).

Aqua PA West Chester's 188 violations sit above the Pennsylvania average.

All figures above are sourced directly from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 public data releases and are updated as EPA publishes new reporting cycles.

PFAS Detected

5 PFAS "forever chemicals" detected in testing under EPA's UCMR5 monitoring program.

Population Served
48,600
Total Violations
188
Health-Based Violations
2
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Private
Connections
13,412
County
Chester
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
2
Monitoring Violations
184
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 11 2017
2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 7 2023
Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 7 2023
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 7 1994
Carbon tetrachloride MR 7 1994
Trichloroethylene MR 7 1994
p-Dichlorobenzene MR 7 1994
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 7 1994
Benzene MR 7 1994
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 7 1994
Revised Total Coliform Rule MON 5 2017
CYANIDE MR 4 2000
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 1994
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 3 1994
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 3 1994
Tetrachloroethylene MR 3 1994
CHLOROBENZENE MR 3 1994
Ethylbenzene MR 3 1994
trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 3 1994
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 3 1994
Toluene MR 3 1994
Styrene MR 3 1994
Xylenes, Total MR 3 1994
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 3 1994
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 3 1994
Chlorine MR 2 2017
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 2 2020
TTHM MR 2 2020
Toxaphene MR 2 2023
Dalapon MR 2 2023

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 19 of 174 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
NEtFOSAA 8/8/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/8/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 8/8/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/8/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/15/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/15/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/15/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/15/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/15/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/15/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/15/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/15/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/15/2024 5.10 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDA 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/15/2024 4.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 7/15/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/15/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/15/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/15/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/15/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/15/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/15/2024 4.10 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
4:2 FTS 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/15/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/15/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/15/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/11/2024 5.40 ppt 5.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 7/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/11/2024 3.60 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/11/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/11/2024 5.90 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/11/2024 7.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 7/11/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/11/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/11/2024 7.40 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpS 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/11/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected

Verify This Water System

The figures above are aggregated from EPA's public databases. To verify the underlying records, or to file a complaint, request a Consumer Confidence Report, or check current monitoring status, go directly to the federal and state regulators that enforce the Safe Drinking Water Act for Aqua PA West Chester.

Federal Source of Truth

EPA SDWIS, Federal Reports

EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) holds the federal compliance record for every regulated public water system. Open the system-level report by PWS ID:

View PWS ID PA1150098 on SDWIS

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Reports Search

State Regulator

Pennsylvania Drinking Water Authority

Pennsylvania DEP, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water is the primacy agency that licenses and inspects Aqua PA West Chester under EPA-delegated authority.

Open PA regulator portal

Source: Pennsylvania DEP, Bureau of Safe Drinking Water

Violation Timeline

Each row links to the EPA SDWIS public record for verification. Cross-reference the contaminant code on EPA's federal report to see violation dates, return-to-compliance status, and enforcement actions.

Year (latest) Contaminant Category Count EPA Record
2023 2,3,7,8-TCDD MR 7 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2063
2023 Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCB) MR 7 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2383
2023 Toxaphene MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2020
2023 Dalapon MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2031
2023 Simazine MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2037
2023 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2039
2023 Picloram MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2040
2023 Dinoseb MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2041
2023 Carbofuran MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2046
2023 Atrazine MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2050
2023 HEXACHLOROBENZENE MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2274
2023 Benzo(a)pyrene MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2306
2023 Pentachlorophenol MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2326
2023 ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2946
2023 Chlordane MR 2 SDWIS / PA1150098 / 2959

How Aqua PA West Chester Compares

Cross-reference this system's record against state averages and the federal MCL framework for context.

Metric Aqua PA West Chester Pennsylvania avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 188 150.6 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 2 8.9 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 5 compounds 57.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 48,600 1,640 Sizing context for compliance burden

Sources: EPA SDWIS and EPA National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (40 CFR Part 141). State averages computed across 7,701 regulated public water systems in Pennsylvania.

Federal MCL reference, Safe Drinking Water Act thresholds
Contaminant Federal MCL / Action Level Note
Lead 0 mg/L (Action Level: 0.015 mg/L) Lead and Copper Rule treatment technique
Arsenic 0.010 mg/L (10 ppb) Health-based MCL since 2006
Total Coliform Treatment technique (RTCR) Indicator organism, monitoring trigger
PFOA / PFOS (PFAS) 4.0 ppt each (final 2024 rule) Compliance deadline 2029 (EPA proposed extending to 2031, not yet final as of May 2026)
Nitrate (as N) 10 mg/L Acute health risk for infants

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Aqua PA West Chester water safe to drink?
Aqua PA West Chester (PWS ID: PA1150098) has 188 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 48,600 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does Aqua PA West Chester serve?
Aqua PA West Chester serves 48,600 people in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. It is a Private-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 13,412 service connections.
What type of violations does Aqua PA West Chester have?
Aqua PA West Chester has 188 total violations: 2 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 184 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Aqua PA West Chester water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in Aqua PA West Chester's water supply: PFOA, PFHxA, PFPeA, PFBA, PFBS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Aqua PA West Chester use?
Aqua PA West Chester uses Surface Water as its primary water source. It is classified as a Community Water System (CWS), serving residential populations year-round.
Where does this data come from?
All data comes from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and the UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program. SDWIS tracks compliance for all public water systems regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Data Sources: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), Q4 2025. PFAS data from EPA UCMR5 monitoring program (2023-2025). This data is provided for informational purposes only.
Data sourced from EPA SDWIS and UCMR5 PFAS monitoring data. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainWater Editorial

Every figure on PlainWater is rendered directly from EPA SDWIS drinking-water data, no number is typed in by an editor. This system's figures are rendered directly from EPA SDWIS data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.