Is there PFAS in Reading Area Water Authority water?
Yes. EPA's final UCMR 5 results show Reading Area Water Authority averaged 6.1 ppt of PFOA at its worst sampling point, 1.5 times the EPA limit of 4 ppt.
Reading Area Water Authority
Serves 95,100 people · 4 PFOA samples from 1 sampling point · Jan 2024 to Oct 2024
Average above an EPA limit
PFOA Perfluorooctanoic acid
6.1 ppt avg · max 6.6
PFOS Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
not detected
Hazard index GenX, PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS combined
not detected
Also detected, no federal limit: PFBS, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA.
Reading Area Water Authority is a public water system drawing on surface water, based in Reading, Pennsylvania, serving about 95,100 people, including Birdsboro, Reading. Under EPA's Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule it was tested for 29 PFAS and lithium 4 times across 1 sampling point between Jan 2024 and Oct 2024.
Every PFAS detected
Not detected: PFMBA, PFDoA, PFDA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFPeS, PFEESA, PFHpS, PFMPA, 4:2 FTS, PFUnA, 11Cl-PF3OUdS, 9Cl-PF3ONS, ADONA, HFPO-DA, PFBA, 6:2 FTS, NMeFOSAA, NFDHA, NEtFOSAA, 8:2 FTS, PFTrDA, PFTA.
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
19508 19601 19602 19603 19604 19605 19606 19607 19610 19611
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 Reading Area Water Authority water: EPA UCMR 5 results." Data: U.S. EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, final release August 2026, PWSID PA3060059. https://wellandtap.com/pfas/pennsylvania/reading-area-water-authority/
About this data
Source: U.S. EPA, UCMR 5 occurrence data, final release August 2026 (PWSID PA3060059). Population: EPA SDWIS. Averages count results below the reporting level as zero, the same convention EPA uses for running annual averages. Full method.
