01The verdict: is Lake Harmony water safe?
Lake Harmony's drinking water has significant quality concerns based on EPA testing data. With a grade of C- (58.2/100), the system has issues across multiple categories. A water filter is recommended for all residents. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 500 residents using groundwater (wells).
Copper is over its legal limit
Measured at 3.82 mg/L against the EPA Action Level of 1.3 mg/L. The ledger below shows how far over — and which filter removes it.
See the measurement ↓Top half in Pennsylvania
Lake Harmony ranks #276 of 559 graded Pennsylvania cities.
See the comparison ↓21 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 ↓Lake Harmony's drinking water received a grade of C- (58.2 out of 100), indicating poor water quality. The city's 1 water system serves approximately 500 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 190 violations on record, including 10 health-based violations. 24 remain unresolved.
Lake Harmony ranks #276 out of 559 cities in Pennsylvania for water quality, placing it mid-range in the state. Lake Harmony 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, Lake Harmony may have fewer resources for advanced treatment technologies and infrastructure upgrades compared to larger utilities. The system has seen 21 violations in the past five years, suggesting a pattern of compliance challenges that residents should monitor closely.
02What's in Lake Harmony's water
Every contaminant flagged in Lake Harmony, 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.
Over Limit — EPA Action Level: 1.3 mg/L
Exceeds the EPA action level. Copper leaches from household plumbing — flush taps for 30 seconds before drinking, and consider a certified filter.Full contaminants report
| Contaminant | Detected Level | EPA Limit | Unit | Category | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper (90th percentile) CopperInorganic A metal that enters drinking water mainly through corrosion of copper plumbing. Small amounts are essential for health, but excess levels are harmful. Health EffectsGastrointestinal distress (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) at short-term high levels; liver and kidney damage from long-term exposure. EPA Limit1.3 mg/L action level Common SourcesCorrosion of copper household plumbing, erosion of natural deposits. | 3.82 | 1.3 | mg/L | Inorganic | Over Limit |
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
03Lake Harmony'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 190 violations on record, including 10 health-based violations. 24 remain unresolved.
3 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.
3.8mg/L(2019)
One sampling round on record — 294% of the 1.3mg/L EPA action level. Sampled at higher-risk homes (90th percentile).
04Where Lake Harmony's water comes from
Lake Harmony'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.
500 people
Residents served across Lake Harmony'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 500 people through 1 water system.
| System name | PWSID | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| S R WATER | PA3130053 | 500 | Groundwater |
Water bodies near Lake Harmony
These water bodies shape the regional watershed and can indirectly affect groundwater quality.
05Pressure on Lake Harmony'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.
Flood & storm history
8 federal disaster declarations on record for Carbon County. Flooding and severe storms can overwhelm treatment plants, cause sewage overflows, and push runoff into supplies.
06How Lake Harmony compares
Scores for nearby Pennsylvania cities on one line, with the average marked.
dashed line = Pennsylvania average (49/100)
Lake Harmony scores 58.2/100 — 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 Lake Harmony's water — not generic advice.
Filter drinking & cooking water
NSF-certified water filter. Copper exceeds the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L
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 Lake Harmony alerts
This area has a history of flood declarations — after severe weather, watch for boil-water advisories from the utility, and check the live alerts on this page.
All water alerts →Frequently asked questions
Is Lake Harmony, PA tap water safe to drink?
Lake Harmony's water quality earned a grade of C- (58.2/100). Significant issues have been found. A water filter is strongly recommended. The city ranks #276 out of 559 cities tested in Pennsylvania.
What contaminants are in Lake Harmony's water?
190 violations are on record.
How is Lake Harmony'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 Lake Harmony?
Based on current data, basic filtration should suffice for additional peace of mind.
Where does Lake Harmony's water come from?
Lake Harmony's water is sourced from Groundwater. The city has 1 water system serving approximately 500 residents.
What health violations has Lake Harmony's water system had?
Lake Harmony has 10 health-based violations on record. The most recent violation was recorded in January 2024. Health-based violations mean the water exceeded EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for a regulated substance. 24 violations remain unresolved.
Is Lake Harmony's groundwater at risk of contamination?
Lake Harmony 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 190 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 Lake Harmony's water compare to other cities?
Lake Harmony ranks #276 out of 559 cities in Pennsylvania (better than 51% of state cities) and #12093 out of 15382 cities nationally (21th percentile). The grade of C- reflects the combined assessment of violation history, lead and copper levels, PFAS contamination, and regulatory compliance.
Does Lake Harmony's small water system affect quality?
Lake Harmony's system serves approximately 500 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 190 violations on record.