PlainWater
States → Pennsylvania

Community Water System · PWS PA4140082

College Twp Water Authority

State College, Pennsylvania 16801 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 6,000 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

6,000
People served
652
EPA violations
3
Health-based
2 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 652 drinking-water violations at College Twp Water Authority - above the Pennsylvania per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds.

652
Total EPA violations on record
0%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
6,000
People served by this system
2
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: College Twp Water Authority

College Twp Water Authority is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 6,000 residents in State College, Pennsylvania (Centre County) through 2,883 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 652 total violations for this system , of which 3 (0%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 636 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 BHC-GAMMA, recorded in 20 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 3.9 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%).

College Twp Water Authority's 652 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

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

Population Served
6,000
Total Violations
652
Health-Based Violations
3
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
2,883
County
Centre
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
0
Monitoring Violations
636
Treatment Tech Violations
3

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
BHC-GAMMA MR 20 1995
Methoxychlor MR 20 1995
Di(2-ethylhexyl) adipate MR 20 1995
Simazine MR 20 1995
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 20 1995
Picloram MR 20 1995
Hexachlorocyclopentadiene MR 20 1995
2,4-D MR 20 1995
Benzo(a)pyrene MR 20 1995
Pentachlorophenol MR 20 1995
Aldicarb sulfone MR 20 1995
Endothall MR 20 1995
Aldicarb sulfoxide MR 20 1995
Atrazine MR 20 1995
OXAMYL MR 20 1995
LASSO MR 20 1995
ETHYLENE DIBROMIDE MR 20 1995
Arsenic MR 13 1999
Mercury MR 12 1999
Selenium MR 12 1999
Antimony, Total MR 12 1999
Beryllium, Total MR 12 1999
Thallium, Total MR 12 1999
Barium MR 12 1999
CYANIDE MR 12 1999
Fluoride MR 12 1999
Chromium MR 12 1999
Cadmium MR 12 1999
Nickel MR 12 1999
Nitrate MR 10 2015

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 3 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFOS 7/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 7/19/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 7/19/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/19/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/19/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 7/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 7/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 7/19/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 7/19/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 7/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 7/19/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 7/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 7/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 7/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 7/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 7/19/2023 3.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFTA 7/19/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 7/19/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 7/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 7/19/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 7/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 7/19/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 7/19/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 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 College Twp 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 PA4140082 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 College Twp 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
2023 Gross Beta Particle Activity MR 8 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 4100
2015 Nitrate MR 10 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 1040
2015 Nitrite MR 2 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 1041
2007 Coliform (TCR) MR 7 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 3100
2007 Chlorine MR 4 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 0999
2004 Consumer Confidence Rule Other 4 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 7000
1999 Arsenic MR 13 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 1005
1999 Mercury MR 12 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 1035
1999 Selenium MR 12 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 1045
1999 Antimony, Total MR 12 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 1074
1999 Beryllium, Total MR 12 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 1075
1999 Thallium, Total MR 12 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 1085
1999 Barium MR 12 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 1010
1999 CYANIDE MR 12 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 1024
1999 Fluoride MR 12 SDWIS / PA4140082 / 1025

How College Twp Water Authority Compares

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

Metric College Twp Water Authority Pennsylvania avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 652 150.6 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 3 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 6,000 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 College Twp Water Authority water safe to drink? ▼
College Twp Water Authority (PWS ID: PA4140082) has 652 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 2 PFAS compounds found. This system serves 6,000 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does College Twp Water Authority serve? ▼
College Twp Water Authority serves 6,000 people in State College, Pennsylvania. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 2,883 service connections.
What type of violations does College Twp Water Authority have? ▼
College Twp Water Authority has 652 total violations: 3 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 636 monitoring/reporting violations, and 3 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in College Twp Water Authority water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 2 PFAS compounds in College Twp Water Authority's water supply: PFPeA, PFHxA. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does College Twp Water Authority use? ▼
College Twp Water Authority uses Groundwater 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.

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

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.