Is there PFAS in Paw Watres water?
No PFAS were detected in any of the 4 samples EPA's program collected.
Paw Watres is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, serving about 52,002 people, including Moosic, Pittston, Duryea, Wilkes Barre. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 4 times across 1 sampling point between Mar 2023 and Dec 2023.
Every PFAS detected
None of the 29 PFAS were found at or above EPA's minimum reporting levels (2 to 20 ppt depending on the compound).
Not detected: PFPeS, 6:2 FTS, 4:2 FTS, 8:2 FTS, PFMPA, PFPeA, PFMBA, PFHpS, NFDHA, PFBA, PFDA, PFEESA, PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOA, PFTrDA, PFDoA, PFHxA, PFUnA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, ADONA, 9Cl-PF3ONS, PFOS, NMeFOSAA, NEtFOSAA, PFTA, HFPO-DA.
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
No PFAS action is needed on these results. If your water tastes or smells of chlorine, a whole-house city water filter is the usual fix.
Other systems in Pennsylvania
- Bcwsa Main Lower South above an EPA limit
- Paw Nesbitt none detected
- Williamsport Mun Water Auth 5 PFAS detected
- Pa Amer Water CO 5 PFAS detected
- Pa American Royersford above an EPA limit
- Greater Johnstown Wa Riverside none detected
All 390 tested systems in Pennsylvania
ZIP codes served
18507 18640 18641 18642 18702 18705
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 Paw Watres water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID PA2409011. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/pennsylvania/paw-watres/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID PA2409011). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.