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Community Water System · PWS PA2359008

PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton

Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania 18702 - drinking water served from surface water sources to 134,570 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

134,570
People served
59
EPA violations
0
Health-based
5 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 59 drinking-water violations at PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton - below the Pennsylvania per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds.

59
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
134,570
People served by this system
5
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton

PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton is a private-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 134,570 residents in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania (Lackawanna County) through 61,223 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 59 total violations for this system , of which 0 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 57 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2014.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Radium-226, recorded in 21 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 7.6 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%).

PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton's 59 violations sit below 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
134,570
Total Violations
59
Health-Based Violations
0
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Private
Connections
61,223
County
Lackawanna
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
57
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Radium-226 MR 21 2014
Radium-228 MR 21 2014
Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 15 2014

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 12 of 464 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFOS 7/18/2024 6.80 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
4:2 FTS 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/18/2024 3.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHpA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/18/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/18/2024 4.60 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFDA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/18/2024 3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFUnA 7/18/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/18/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/18/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/18/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/18/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/18/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/18/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/18/2024 3.90 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFHxS 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/18/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/18/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/18/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/18/2024 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/18/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/18/2024 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/18/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/18/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/18/2024 7.50 ppt 4.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 7/18/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/18/2024 3.50 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFBA 7/18/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/18/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/18/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/18/2024 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/18/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/18/2024 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/18/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/18/2024 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/18/2024 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/18/2024 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/18/2024 <20.00 ppt 20.00 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 PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton.

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 PA2359008 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 PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton 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
2014 Radium-226 MR 21 SDWIS / PA2359008 / 4020
2014 Radium-228 MR 21 SDWIS / PA2359008 / 4030
2014 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 15 SDWIS / PA2359008 / 4000

How PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton Compares

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

Metric PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton Pennsylvania avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 59 150.6 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 0 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 134,570 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 PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton water safe to drink?
PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton (PWS ID: PA2359008) has 59 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 5 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 134,570 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton serve?
PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton serves 134,570 people in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. It is a Private-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 61,223 service connections.
What type of violations does PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton have?
PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton has 59 total violations: 0 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 57 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton water?
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 5 PFAS compounds in PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton's water supply: PFOS, PFBS, PFOA, PFHxA, PFPeA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton use?
PA Amer Water Co Lake Scranton 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.