Is there PFAS in Emmaus Borough Public Water water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Emmaus Borough Public Water averaged 127 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 31.8 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Emmaus Borough Public Water
Serves 14,000 people · 8 PFOA samples from 4 sampling points · Aug 2024 to Feb 2025
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
19.5 ppt avg · max 22.4
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
127 ppt avg · max 153
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
28.9 ppt avg · max 33.2
PFNA Perfluorononanoic acid
85.4 ppt avg · max 99.8
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
11.4 avg · max 13.3
Also detected, no federal limit: 6:2 FTS, PFPeA, 8:2 FTS, PFHxA, PFHpA, PFUnA, PFBS, PFBA, PFDA.
Emmaus Borough Public Water is a public water system drawing on groundwater, based in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, serving about 14,000 people. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 8 times across 4 sampling points between Aug 2024 and Feb 2025.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFPeS, NFDHA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFMBA, PFDoA, HFPO-DA, 4:2 FTS, PFHpS, PFEESA, PFTA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, PFMPA, ADONA.
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
18049
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 Emmaus Borough Public Water water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID PA3390032. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/pennsylvania/emmaus-borough-public-water/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID PA3390032). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
