Is there PFAS in Pa Amer Water CO Lake Scranton water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Pa Amer Water CO Lake Scranton averaged 7.5 ppt of PFOS at its worst sampling point, 1.9 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Pa Amer Water CO Lake Scranton
Serves 137,142 people · 16 PFOA samples from 8 sampling points · Jul 2024 to Apr 2025
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
4.8 ppt avg · max 4.9
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
7.5 ppt avg · max 7.6
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
not detected
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS, PFPeA, PFHxA.
Pa Amer Water CO Lake Scranton is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania, serving about 137,142 people, including Archbald, Chinchilla, Clarks Summit, Dalton, Jessup, Olyphant. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 16 times across 8 sampling points between Jul 2024 and Apr 2025.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, PFTrDA, PFTA, PFHxS, PFEESA, PFHpA, NFDHA, PFDoA, PFUnA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, HFPO-DA, PFBA, 6:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 8:2 FTS, PFMPA, PFPeS, PFMBA, PFNA, PFHpS, PFDA.
Lithium, tested in the same program: highest 324 ppb, detected in 12 of 16 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
18403 18410 18411 18414 18434 18447 18452 18471 18503 18504 18505 18507 18508 18509 18510 18512 18517 18518 18519
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 Pa Amer Water CO Lake Scranton water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID PA2359008. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/pennsylvania/pa-amer-water-co-lake-scranton/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID PA2359008). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
