AQUA PA WEST CHESTER

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Reviewed byPlainWater Editorial, Drinking Water Quality Editorial Team · June 3, 2026

PWS ID: PA1150098 · BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania 19010

AQUA PA WEST CHESTER serves 48,600 people in BRYN MAWR, Pennsylvania using Surface Water water sources. It has 188 recorded EPA violations, including 2 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (5 compounds found).

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 0.0074 ppt. 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. AQUA PA WEST CHESTER's 188 violations sit above the Pennsylvania average. Statewide, 224 of 389 UCMR5-tested systems have reported PFAS detections (57.6%). 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

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 180 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant	Date	Result	MRL	Status
NEtFOSAA	8/8/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	8/8/2024	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	8/8/2024	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	8/8/2024	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	7/15/2024	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	7/15/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	7/15/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpS	7/15/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	7/15/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFNA	7/15/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	7/15/2024	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	7/15/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHpA	7/15/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
NEtFOSAA	7/15/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
NMeFOSAA	7/15/2024	<0.006 µg/L	0.006 µg/L	Not Detected
PFEESA	7/15/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTA	7/15/2024	<0.008 µg/L	0.008 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	7/15/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMBA	7/15/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFTrDA	7/15/2024	<0.007 µg/L	0.007 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	7/15/2024	0.0051 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Detected
PFDA	7/15/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	7/15/2024	0.0041 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
PFUnA	7/15/2024	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS	7/15/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS	7/15/2024	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
HFPO-DA	7/15/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	7/15/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
6:2 FTS	7/15/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	7/15/2024	0.0041 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
4:2 FTS	7/15/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
8:2 FTS	7/15/2024	<0.005 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Not Detected
PFMPA	7/15/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
ADONA	7/15/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
lithium	7/11/2024	<9 µg/L	9 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBA	7/11/2024	0.0054 µg/L	0.005 µg/L	Detected
PFNA	7/11/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFBS	7/11/2024	0.0036 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
PFHpA	7/11/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
4:2 FTS	7/11/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxS	7/11/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeS	7/11/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOS	7/11/2024	<0.004 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Not Detected
PFOA	7/11/2024	0.0059 µg/L	0.004 µg/L	Detected
PFDA	7/11/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFDoA	7/11/2024	<0.003 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Not Detected
PFHxA	7/11/2024	0.0072 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	Detected
PFUnA	7/11/2024	<0.002 µg/L	0.002 µg/L	Not Detected
NFDHA	7/11/2024	<0.02 µg/L	0.02 µg/L	Not Detected
PFPeA	7/11/2024	0.0074 µg/L	0.003 µg/L	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
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.

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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.

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