PlainWater
States → Pennsylvania

ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY

PWS ID: PA3540030 · ASHLAND, Pennsylvania 17921

ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY serves 4,200 people in ASHLAND, Pennsylvania using Surface Water water sources. It has 179 recorded EPA violations, including 1 health-based violations. PFAS "forever chemicals" were detected in UCMR5 testing (2 compounds found).

Water Quality Snapshot: ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY

ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 4,200 residents in ASHLAND, Pennsylvania (Schuylkill County) through 4,659 service connections. Its water is drawn from surface water sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 179 total violations for this system , of which 1 (1%) are health-based — meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 169 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2025.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Surface Water Treatment Rule, recorded in 44 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 2 PFAS compounds were detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 0.017 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. ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY's 179 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

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

Population Served
4,200
Total Violations
179
Health-Based Violations
1
Water Source
Surface Water

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
4,659
County
Schuylkill
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
169
Treatment Tech Violations
1

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 44 2025
Chlorine MR 17 2025
Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 6 2009
TTHM MR 5 2016
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 5 2016
CARBON, TOTAL MR 5 2017
Fluoride MR 5 2023
Cadmium MR 4 2023
Chromium MR 4 2023
Selenium MR 4 2023
Mercury MR 4 2023
Coliform (TCR) MR 4 1999
Barium MR 4 2023
Arsenic MR 4 2023
Nitrate MR 3 1986
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 2 2022
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 2 2022
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 2 2022
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 2 2022
Trichloroethylene MR 2 2022
Benzene MR 2 2022
Styrene MR 2 2022
CYANIDE MR 2 2023
Beryllium, Total MR 2 2023
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 2 2022
Tetrachloroethylene MR 2 2022
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 2 2022
CHLOROBENZENE MR 2 2022
Thallium, Total MR 2 2023
1,1,2-Trichloroethane MR 2 2022

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 6 of 90 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
9Cl-PF3ONS 8/25/2025 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 8/25/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
4:2 FTS 8/25/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
ADONA 8/25/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
HFPO-DA 8/25/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBA 8/25/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
6:2 FTS 8/25/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
8:2 FTS 8/25/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFMPA 8/25/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeA 8/25/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 8/25/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFEESA 8/25/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 8/25/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFTA 8/25/2025 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
NFDHA 8/25/2025 <0.02 µg/L 0.02 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 8/25/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 8/25/2025 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 8/25/2025 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 8/25/2025 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 8/25/2025 0.0170 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Detected
NEtFOSAA 8/25/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 8/25/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFNA 8/25/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 8/25/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 8/25/2025 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 8/25/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 8/25/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 8/25/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 8/25/2025 0.0056 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Detected
PFOA 8/25/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFDA 5/21/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 5/21/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
PFBS 5/21/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpA 5/21/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxS 5/21/2025 0.0040 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Detected
PFNA 5/21/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 5/21/2025 <0.006 µg/L 0.006 µg/L Not Detected
PFOA 5/21/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Not Detected
PFDoA 5/21/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHxA 5/21/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFUnA 5/21/2025 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 5/21/2025 <0.005 µg/L 0.005 µg/L Not Detected
lithium 5/21/2025 <9 µg/L 9 µg/L Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 5/21/2025 <0.002 µg/L 0.002 µg/L Not Detected
PFMBA 5/21/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFHpS 5/21/2025 <0.003 µg/L 0.003 µg/L Not Detected
PFOS 5/21/2025 0.0090 µg/L 0.004 µg/L Detected
PFTA 5/21/2025 <0.008 µg/L 0.008 µg/L Not Detected
PFTrDA 5/21/2025 <0.007 µg/L 0.007 µg/L Not Detected
PFPeS 5/21/2025 <0.004 µg/L 0.004 µg/L 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 ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY.

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 PA3540030 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 ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY 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
2025 Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 44 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 0200
2025 Chlorine MR 17 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 0999
2023 Fluoride MR 5 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 1025
2023 Cadmium MR 4 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 1015
2023 Chromium MR 4 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 1020
2023 Selenium MR 4 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 1045
2023 Mercury MR 4 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 1035
2023 Barium MR 4 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 1010
2023 Arsenic MR 4 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 1005
2023 CYANIDE MR 2 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 1024
2023 Beryllium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 1075
2023 Thallium, Total MR 2 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 1085
2023 Nickel MR 2 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 1036
2022 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 2 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 2378
2022 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 2 SDWIS / PA3540030 / 2964

How ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY Compares

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

Metric ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY Pennsylvania avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 179 150.6 SDWA compliance — any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 1 8.9 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 2 compounds 57.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 4,200 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 ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY water safe to drink? ▼
ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY (PWS ID: PA3540030) has 179 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 4,200 people using Surface Water sources.
How many people does ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY serve? ▼
ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY serves 4,200 people in ASHLAND, Pennsylvania. It is a Local-owned system using Surface Water water sources with 4,659 service connections.
What type of violations does ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY have? ▼
ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY has 179 total violations: 1 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 169 monitoring/reporting violations, and 1 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY's water supply: PFOS, PFHxS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY use? ▼
ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY 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.

Explore PlainWater

Water in Pennsylvania

All systems in state
All States

Water quality by state
Contaminants

PFAS & other pollutants
Guides

Understanding water quality

Related Data for Pennsylvania

Environmental Data → Natural Hazards → Air Quality → Healthcare Access → Climate Data →
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.

Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.

Related

Browse all → | Rankings →
Data sourced from $official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by Kiznis Studio Editorial