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Is there PFAS in Northampton Bucks CO Mun Auth water?

Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Northampton Bucks CO Mun Auth averaged 22.1 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 5.5 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.

Northampton Bucks CO Mun Auth Serves 36,750 people · 34 PFOA samples from 16 sampling points · Dec 2024 to Sep 2025 Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid 19.4 ppt avg · max 19.6
EPA 4
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid 22.1 ppt avg · max 23.0
EPA 4
PFHxS Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid 4.8 ppt avg · max 5.5
EPA 10
PFNA Perfluorononanoic acid 4.2 ppt avg · max 4.3
EPA 10
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined 0.9 avg
EPA 1

Also detected, no federal limit: PFPeA, PFHxA, PFBS, PFHpA, PFBA.

Averages are for the worst sampling point, with non-detects counted as zero. Source: EPA UCMR 5.

Northampton Bucks CO Mun Auth is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Richboro, Pennsylvania, serving about 36,750 people, including Newtown, Richboro, Southampton, Warminster, Feasterville Trevose. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 34 times across 16 sampling points between Dec 2024 and Sep 2025.

Every PFAS detected

PFAS Detected Highest Worst point avg EPA limit
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
24 of 34 23.0 ppt 22.1 ppt 4 ppt
PFPeA
Perfluoropentanoic acid
25 of 34 20.6 ppt 17.7 ppt none
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid
27 of 34 19.6 ppt 19.4 ppt 4 ppt
PFHxA
Perfluorohexanoic acid
25 of 34 17.5 ppt 14.6 ppt none
PFBS
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid
24 of 34 14.9 ppt 13.9 ppt none
PFHpA
Perfluoroheptanoic acid
21 of 34 8.6 ppt 8.4 ppt none
PFBA
Perfluorobutanoic acid
11 of 34 8.1 ppt 7.5 ppt none
PFHxS
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
7 of 34 5.5 ppt 4.8 ppt 10 ppt
PFNA
Perfluorononanoic acid
2 of 34 4.3 ppt 4.2 ppt 10 ppt

Not detected: 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFTA, PFTrDA, NEtFOSAA, NMeFOSAA, HFPO-DA, PFDoA, 8:2 FTS, PFPeS, NFDHA, PFEESA, PFMBA, PFDA, PFMPA, PFHpS, 4:2 FTS, 6:2 FTS, ADONA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, PFUnA.

Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 19.2 ppb, detected in 6 of 34 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

18940 18954 18966 18974 19053

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 Northampton Bucks CO Mun Auth water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID PA1090089. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/pennsylvania/northampton-bucks-co-mun-auth/

About this data

Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID PA1090089). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.