Is there PFAS in Aqua Pa Main System water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Aqua Pa Main System averaged 11.8 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 3.0 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Aqua Pa Main System
Serves 822,600 people · 50 PFOA samples from 19 sampling points · Feb 2024 to Dec 2024
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
11.8 ppt avg · max 12.6
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
8.9 ppt avg · max 9.2
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
7.4 ppt avg · max 7.7
PFNA Perfluorononanoic acid
8.8 ppt avg · max 12.0
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
1.6 avg
Also detected, no federal limit: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBA, PFBS, PFHpA.
Aqua Pa Main System is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, serving about 822,600 people, including Jamison, Southampton, Warminster, Warrington, Abington, Ambler. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 50 times across 19 sampling points between Feb 2024 and Dec 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFHpS, 8:2 FTS, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, HFPO-DA, 4:2 FTS, PFDoA, PFPeS, NFDHA, PFEESA, PFMBA, PFMPA, 6:2 FTS, PFDA, PFUnA, PFTA, NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 15.7 ppb, detected in 2 of 50 samples. EPA's health-based screening level is 10 ppb.
What the EPA limits mean here
In April 2024 EPA set enforceable limits of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS, 10 ppt each for PFHxS, PFNA and GenX, and a hazard index of 1 for mixtures. Utilities were given until 2029 to comply. In May 2026 EPA proposed keeping only the PFOA and PFOS limits and moving that deadline to 2031. Until that proposal is final, the 2024 limits stand.
Compliance is judged on a running annual average at each entry point, so we show the average at this system's worst sampling point next to its single highest result. UCMR 5 results do not by themselves put a utility in or out of compliance.
What you can do at home
Two routes work for PFAS. For drinking and cooking water only, a reverse osmosis system certified to NSF/ANSI 58 with a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim is the cheapest proven option. To treat every tap and shower, a whole-house carbon system with enough contact time works, but check that the maker has PFAS test data, not just a marketing claim. See the best filters for PFAS and how PFAS removal works.
Other systems in Pennsylvania
All 390 tested systems in Pennsylvania
ZIP codes served
18929 18966 18974 18976 19001 19002 19003 19004 19006 19007 19008 19009 19012 19013 19014 19015 19017 19018 19020 19021 19022 19023 19025 19026 19027 19028 19029 19031 19032 19033 19034 19035 19036 19037 19038 19040 19041 19043 19044 19046 19047 19050 19052 19053 19059 19063 19064 19065 19066 19070 19072 19073 19074 19075 19076 19078 19079 19081 19082 19083 19085 19086 19087 19090 19094 19095 19096 19113 19131 19301 19312 19317 19319 19320 19333 19335 19340 19341 19342 19343 19345 19348 19350 19352 19355 19375 19380 19381 19382 19383 19395 19401 19403 19405 19406 19422 19428 19432 19444 19452 19460 19462 19479 19481 19482 19485
As reported by the utility to EPA. Neighbouring ZIPs are often split between systems; your water bill names yours.
Cite this page
Well & Tap. "PFAS in Aqua Pa Main System water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID PA1460073. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/pennsylvania/aqua-pa-main-system/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID PA1460073). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
