Is there PFAS in Chester Water Authority water?
Some. At least one sample reached an EPA limit, but the average at every sampling point stayed below it.
Chester Water Authority
Serves 140,437 people · 4 PFOA samples from 1 sampling point · Feb 2024 to Nov 2024
One or more samples at an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
2.4 ppt avg · max 5.1
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
not detected
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
not detected
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS, PFPeA, PFHxA.
Chester Water Authority is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Chester, Pennsylvania, serving about 140,437 people, including Chester, Aston, Brookhaven, Chester Heights, Garnet Valley, Marcus Hook. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 4 times across 1 sampling point between Feb 2024 and Nov 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFUnA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFDoA, PFDA, PFOS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, PFHpA, PFHpS, PFHxS, NMeFOSAA, NFDHA, PFPeS, PFEESA, PFTA, NEtFOSAA, PFBA, PFMBA, PFMPA, 8:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, PFTrDA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: not detected.
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
19013 19014 19015 19016 19017 19060 19061 19063 19064 19086 19311 19312 19317 19319 19330 19331 19339 19340 19342 19343 19346 19348 19350 19352 19355 19357 19360 19362 19363 19372 19373 19374 19380 19382 19390
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 Chester Water Authority water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID PA1230004. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/pennsylvania/chester-water-authority/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID PA1230004). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
