PlainWater
States → Pennsylvania

Community Water System · PWS PA4140118

Spring Twp Water Authority

Bellefonte, Pennsylvania 16823 - drinking water served from groundwater sources to 3,300 people, tracked in EPA SDWIS and UCMR5.

3,300
People served
226
EPA violations
6
Health-based
1 PFAS
UCMR5 result

The verdict

EPA records 226 drinking-water violations at Spring Twp Water Authority, 3% of them health-based - above the Pennsylvania per-system average, and UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound.

226
Total EPA violations on record
3%
Health-based (MCL / treatment failure)
3,300
People served by this system
1
PFAS compounds detected (UCMR5)

Water Quality Snapshot: Spring Twp Water Authority

Spring Twp Water Authority is a local-owned community water system that delivers drinking water to 3,300 residents in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania (Centre County) through 1,591 service connections. Its water is drawn from groundwater sources. EPA's Safe Drinking Water Information System records 226 total violations for this system , of which 6 (3%) are health-based, meaning a contaminant exceeded an EPA Maximum Contaminant Level or a required treatment technique failed. A further 203 monitoring and reporting violations are on file. The most recent violation on record dates to 2022.

The most frequently cited contaminant at this system is Chlorine, recorded in 25 violations (MR). Under EPA's UCMR5 PFAS monitoring program, 1 PFAS compound was detected in samples collected from this system, with a maximum reported concentration of 4.2 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%).

Spring Twp Water Authority's 226 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

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

Population Served
3,300
Total Violations
226
Health-Based Violations
6
Water Source
Groundwater

System Details

System Type
Community
Owner Type
Local
Connections
1,591
County
Centre
School/Daycare
No
MCL Violations
6
Monitoring Violations
203
Treatment Tech Violations
0

Violation History

Contaminant violations recorded by EPA.

Contaminant Category Count Latest
Chlorine MR 25 2018
Nitrate MR 10 2004
Surface Water Treatment Rule MR 9 2004
Coliform (TCR) MR 8 2010
Groundwater Rule MR 8 2016
Coliform (TCR) MCL 6 1994
1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 4 2008
cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 4 2008
Xylenes, Total MR 4 2008
DICHLOROMETHANE MR 4 2008
1,2-Dichloropropane MR 4 2008
Tetrachloroethylene MR 4 2008
Styrene MR 4 2008
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 2022
TTHM MR 4 2022
Arsenic MR 4 1983
Fluoride MR 4 1983
Mercury MR 4 1983
Chromium MR 4 1983
Cadmium MR 4 1983
Barium MR 4 1983
Toluene MR 4 2008
1,2-Dichloroethane MR 4 2008
Selenium MR 4 1983
Carbon tetrachloride MR 4 2008
o-Dichlorobenzene MR 4 2008
Ethylbenzene MR 4 2008
Trichloroethylene MR 4 2008
1,1-Dichloroethylene MR 4 2008
1,1,1-Trichloroethane MR 4 2008

PFAS Testing Results (UCMR5)

Results from EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. 4 of 116 samples detected PFAS.

Contaminant Date Result MRL Status
PFUnA 9/20/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
9Cl-PF3ONS 9/20/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBA 9/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpS 9/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/20/2023 <20.00 ppt 20.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeS 9/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
NMeFOSAA 9/20/2023 <6.00 ppt 6.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTA 9/20/2023 <8.00 ppt 8.00 ppt Not Detected
NEtFOSAA 9/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/20/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/20/2023 4.20 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFNA 9/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOS 9/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/20/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/20/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFTrDA 9/20/2023 <7.00 ppt 7.00 ppt Not Detected
HFPO-DA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFBS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHpA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFNA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFOA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFDoA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFUnA 9/18/2023 <2.00 ppt 2.00 ppt Not Detected
11Cl-PF3OUdS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
ADONA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFHxS 9/18/2023 3.90 ppt 3.00 ppt Detected
PFBA 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
6:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
4:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
8:2 FTS 9/18/2023 <5.00 ppt 5.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMPA 9/18/2023 <4.00 ppt 4.00 ppt Not Detected
PFPeA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFMBA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
PFEESA 9/18/2023 <3.00 ppt 3.00 ppt Not Detected
NFDHA 9/18/2023 <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 Spring 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 PA4140118 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 Spring 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
2022 Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) MR 4 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 2456
2022 TTHM MR 4 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 2950
2018 Chlorine MR 25 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 0999
2016 Groundwater Rule MR 8 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 0700
2015 Radium-226 MR 3 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 4020
2015 Radium-228 MR 3 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 4030
2015 Gross Alpha, Excl. Radon and U MR 3 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 4000
2015 Combined Uranium MR 3 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 4006
2010 Coliform (TCR) MR 8 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 3100
2009 Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate MR 3 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 2039
2008 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene MR 4 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 2378
2008 cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene MR 4 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 2380
2008 Xylenes, Total MR 4 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 2955
2008 DICHLOROMETHANE MR 4 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 2964
2008 1,2-Dichloropropane MR 4 SDWIS / PA4140118 / 2983

How Spring Twp Water Authority Compares

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

Metric Spring Twp Water Authority Pennsylvania avg Federal benchmark
Total violations 226 150.6 SDWA compliance, any non-zero count is a recorded breach
Health-based violations 6 8.9 Indicates a contaminant exceeded a federal MCL
PFAS detection 1 compound 57.6% EPA final rule (2024): PFOA/PFOS MCL = 4.0 ppt
Population served 3,300 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 Spring Twp Water Authority water safe to drink? ▼
Spring Twp Water Authority (PWS ID: PA4140118) has 226 recorded violations in the EPA SDWIS database. PFAS contamination has been detected in UCMR5 testing, with 1 PFAS compound found. This system serves 3,300 people using Groundwater sources.
How many people does Spring Twp Water Authority serve? ▼
Spring Twp Water Authority serves 3,300 people in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. It is a Local-owned system using Groundwater water sources with 1,591 service connections.
What type of violations does Spring Twp Water Authority have? ▼
Spring Twp Water Authority has 226 total violations: 6 health-based violations (MCL exceedances or treatment failures), 203 monitoring/reporting violations, and 0 treatment technique violations. Health-based violations indicate contaminant levels exceeded EPA safe limits.
Has PFAS been detected in Spring Twp Water Authority water? ▼
Yes. UCMR5 testing detected 1 PFAS compound in Spring Twp Water Authority's water supply: PFHxS. PFAS are persistent "forever chemicals" that do not break down in the environment.
What water source does Spring Twp Water Authority use? ▼
Spring 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.