Is Philadelphia tap water safe to drink?
In the latest results, every contaminant we list with a single federal limit was below that limit or action level. Lead was 2 ppb at the 90th percentile, below the 15 ppb action level. EPA’s goal for lead is zero. PFOA or PFOS was found at or above 4.0 ppt, the new federal limit. Utilities must comply from 2029, based on a running annual average, so a single test result is not a violation. EPA lists no health-based violations in the last 10 years (7 monitoring, reporting or notice records). See how US tap water compares nationally.
What’s in Philadelphia tap water
This page uses EPA records only: lead from SDWIS, PFAS and lithium from UCMR 5. Philadelphia Water Department’s yearly water quality report (Consumer Confidence Report) lists more, and EPA explains how to find it.
| Contaminant | Result | Limit | Sampled | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LeadComes mostly from home plumbing, not from the source water. | 2 ppb 90th percentile reported to EPA; previous round (Jun – Sep 2022): 2 ppb | 15 ppbAction level · goal 0Drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027 (Lead and Copper Rule Improvements). | Jun – Sep 2025 | EPA SDWIS record, PA1510001 |
| PFOAA “forever chemical” with a federal limit. | Up to 8.1 ppt Found in 8 of 12 samples at 3 entry points | 4.0 pptLegal limit (MCL) · goal 0Applies to a running annual average. Utilities must comply from 2029; EPA proposed 2031 in May 2026. | Jan 2024 – Oct 2024 | EPA UCMR 5 final occurrence data (Aug 2026 release) |
| PFOSA “forever chemical” with a federal limit. | Up to 6 ppt Found in 6 of 12 samples at 3 entry points | 4.0 pptLegal limit (MCL) · goal 0Applies to a running annual average. Utilities must comply from 2029; EPA proposed 2031 in May 2026. | Jan 2024 – Oct 2024 | EPA UCMR 5 final occurrence data (Aug 2026 release) |
| Other PFASFound among the 27 other PFAS EPA had utilities test. | 6 found PFBS up to 10 ppt; PFPeA up to 9.9 ppt; PFHxA up to 9.1 ppt; PFBA up to 7.6 ppt; PFNA up to 4.5 ppt; PFHpA up to 3.3 ppt | VariesSet per compound in EPA’s PFAS rule | Jan 2024 – Oct 2024 | EPA UCMR 5 final occurrence data (Aug 2026 release) |
ppb = parts per billion (µg/L), ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). The bar shows the result against the limit (black line). Limits: EPA drinking water regulations, PFAS rule, Lead and Copper Rule Improvements. “Not detected” means below the lab’s reporting level, not zero.
EPA violations
EPA’s SDWIS database lists 9 violation records for Philadelphia Water Department since 2007, none of them health-based. 1 has no return-to-compliance date on EPA’s record.
Not listed: 2 older monitoring, reporting or notice records (2007–2016), none health-based.
Shown: health-based violations and everything from the last 10 years. Source: EPA SDWIS record, PA1510001, retrieved Oct 13, 2026.
How hard is Philadelphia water?
Hardness is not in EPA’s records. Philadelphia Water Department’s yearly water quality report is the place to look. Hardness has no federal health limit. A test kit or a lab test measures it at your tap (see how to test water hardness).
What to do with these numbers
Only what the data above points to.
Lead comes from home plumbing
EPA’s goal for lead is zero. Older faucets, lead solder and lead service lines can add lead at your tap. A filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduces it.
Certified to reduce lead. Lead is not necessarily in your water.
All filters compared →PFOA or PFOS found in testing
Filters certified to NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 for PFOA and PFOS reduce them at the tap.
Certified to reduce PFOA and PFOS. PFAS is not necessarily in your water.
Reverse osmosis systems →Test your own water
Philadelphia Water Department’s numbers come from its own sampling sites. A certified lab test of your faucet shows lead and copper from your plumbing. How to test your own tap for lead, starting with your water utility.
All water tests compared →