01The verdict: is Lahaska water safe?
Lahaska's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of B- (71.6/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 960 residents using groundwater (wells).
15 unresolved violations on record
EPA records show open compliance items for this system. Most are administrative, but unresolved items are worth watching.
See what was cited ↓Top half in Pennsylvania
Lahaska ranks #173 of 559 graded Pennsylvania cities.
See the comparison ↓12 violations in the last five years
Recent compliance history is the best predictor of future problems — the year-by-year record is below.
See the record ↓Lahaska's drinking water received a grade of B- (71.6 out of 100), indicating fair water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 960 residents using groundwater.
Lead data is not currently available for this system. This system has not yet been tested for PFAS under the EPA UCMR 5 program. The system has 83 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 15 remain unresolved.
Lahaska ranks #173 out of 559 cities in Pennsylvania for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state. Lahaska relies on groundwater, which is generally less vulnerable to surface contamination but can be affected by naturally occurring minerals like arsenic and nitrate, as well as agricultural and industrial runoff. As a small community water system, Lahaska may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 12 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Lahaska's water
Every contaminant flagged in Lahaska, on one shared scale: distance to its own legal limit. The red line is the limit — anything past it is out of compliance, and the closer a bar gets, the less headroom the system has.
No contaminants were measured above screening thresholds in the most recent EPA sampling data for this system. The full testing table below lists everything checked.
Full contaminants report
No contaminant data available for this city.
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile lead PF PFAS in Pennsylvania
Cities ranked by compounds detected Cu Copper in Pennsylvania
Cities ranked by 90th-percentile copper
03Lahaska's ten-year track record
Each box is one year. A green check means no EPA violations; a numbered badge counts that year's violations — red if any were health-based, amber if they were monitoring or paperwork issues. The system has 83 violations on record, including 0 health-based violations. 15 remain unresolved.
0 of the last ten years were clean. The numbered years had EPA violations — red when any were health-based, amber when they were paperwork or missed-testing issues.
04Where Lahaska's water comes from
Lahaska's drinking water is drawn from underground aquifers through wells.
Groundwater
Underground aquifers reached by wells — naturally filtered, but can carry minerals like arsenic and nitrate.
Local treatment
Groundwater generally needs less treatment — typically disinfection and, where needed, mineral removal.
1 system
1 water system, operated under private ownership.
960 people
Residents served across Lahaska's service area.
Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil layers, generally requiring less treatment than surface water. However, it can contain naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and minerals. Agricultural activity, septic systems, and industrial operations near well fields can introduce nitrates, pesticides, and volatile organic compounds. The system is operated by private ownership and serves approximately 960 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEDDLERS VILLAGE | PA1090153 | 960 | Groundwater |
05Pressure on Lahaska's watershed
Outside forces that shape what reaches the treatment plant. None of these is a verdict on the tap by itself — but each adds pressure worth knowing about.
Drought
Bucks County is in D2 (severe drought) per the U.S. Drought Monitor (week of Jul 2026). Drought can raise disinfection-byproduct levels and taste/odor issues as utilities draw from lower reservoirs.
06How Lahaska compares
Scores for nearby Pennsylvania cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Pennsylvania average (49/100)
Lahaska scores 71.6/100 — above the Pennsylvania average of 49/100. It outscores 8 of 10 nearby cities. Full Pennsylvania rankings →
79.8 / 100FBryn Mawr, PA
34.2 / 100FPittsburgh, PA
44 / 100AMcmurray, PA
86.8 / 100DGreensburg, PA
46.7 / 100FHarrisburg, PA
35.6 / 100
Compare all cities in the county — grades, violations, and contaminant data side by side.→
07What to do at home
Steps matched to what testing actually found in Lahaska's water — not generic advice.
A basic carbon filter still helps
Lahaska's water meets federal standards, but a simple carbon filter improves taste and adds a margin of safety against short-term issues.
Compare tested filters →Read your utility's annual report
Every utility must publish a yearly Consumer Confidence Report with its own testing results. It pairs well with the independent data on this page.
How to read a CCR →Watch for Lahaska alerts
We refresh EPA data monthly and surface new violations, advisories, and boil-water notices for your county on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Lahaska, PA tap water safe to drink?
Lahaska's water quality earned a grade of B- (71.6/100). Some concerns have been identified. Consider a water filter for an extra layer of protection. The city ranks #173 out of 559 cities tested in Pennsylvania.
What contaminants are in Lahaska's water?
83 violations are on record.
How is Lahaska's water quality grade calculated?
The grade is based on four factors: violation history (40%), lead and copper levels (25%), PFAS contamination (25%), and regulatory compliance (10%). The score is also adjusted based on how complete the available data is. See our methodology page for full details.
Do I need a water filter in Lahaska?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Lahaska's water come from?
Lahaska's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 960 residents.
Is Lahaska's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Lahaska uses groundwater, which can be affected by naturally occurring contaminants like arsenic, radon, and nitrate, as well as agricultural runoff and industrial activity. The system has 83 violations on record that may relate to groundwater quality. Groundwater systems are generally less susceptible to surface contamination but should be monitored for emerging contaminants like PFAS.
How does Lahaska's water compare to other cities?
Lahaska ranks #173 out of 559 cities in Pennsylvania (better than 69% of state cities) and #10380 out of 15382 cities nationally (33th percentile). The grade of B- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Lahaska's small water system affect quality?
Lahaska's system serves approximately 960 residents. Small community water systems (under 3,300 people) may have fewer financial resources for infrastructure upgrades and advanced treatment technologies. However, they are held to the same EPA drinking water standards as larger systems. This system has 83 violations on record.