Copper Contamination

Copper in Pennsylvania Drinking Water

Ranked by 90th percentile copper level (mg/L) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

206

Cities Tested

206

Exceeds Limit

100%

% Exceeds Limit

2.241 mg/L

State Avg

▼ 0% vs national

vs National

487

Health Violations

Analysis

Copper in Pennsylvania: what the data shows

Pennsylvania has 206 cities with copper monitoring data. The state average 90th percentile copper level is 2.241 mg/L, compared to 28.808 mg/L nationally — better than the national average. 206 cities exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L. Copper in drinking water typically comes from corrosion of copper pipes and plumbing fixtures, particularly in older homes. The EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L is the 90th percentile threshold — if more than 10% of tap samples exceed it, utilities must take corrective action including adjusting water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. Short-term copper exposure above the action level can cause gastrointestinal distress. Long-term exposure at elevated levels is associated with liver and kidney damage. Flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use and using an NSF 53-certified filter can reduce copper exposure.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 1.3 mg/L EPA Action Level

Pennsylvania

100%

206 of 206 cities

← = Exactly at national rate

National avg

100%

3953 of 3953 cities

City Map

Copper data across Pennsylvania

Each dot is a city, colored by overall water quality grade. Cities with copper levels above the 1.3 mg/L EPA action level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by copper level in Pennsylvania

Highest Copper levels (mg/L)

All Cities

All Pennsylvania cities ranked by copper level

#	City	Level	Exceeds?	Violations	Grade
1	Bethlehem	10.000 mg/L	Yes	29	F
2	Tobyhanna	8.680 mg/L	Yes	10	F
3	West Grove	6.800 mg/L	Yes	6	F
4	New Freedom	5.800 mg/L	Yes	5	C+
5	Bendersville	5.400 mg/L	Yes	0	C-
6	Ulysses	5.355 mg/L	Yes	16	F
7	Somerset	5.230 mg/L	Yes	10	F
8	Chambersburg	4.930 mg/L	Yes	49	F
9	Aaronsburg	4.710 mg/L	Yes	0	F
10	Gray	4.650 mg/L	Yes	5	F
11	Richfield	4.500 mg/L	Yes	1	B-
12	Buck Hill Falls	4.230 mg/L	Yes	2	B
13	Coatesville	4.205 mg/L	Yes	61	F
14	Ashland	4.120 mg/L	Yes	1	C
15	Altoona	4.100 mg/L	Yes	64	F
16	Mount Union	4.000 mg/L	Yes	52	F
17	Easton	3.840 mg/L	Yes	37	F
18	Lake Harmony	3.820 mg/L	Yes	10	C-
19	South Mountain	3.810 mg/L	Yes	10	F
20	Roaring Spring	3.800 mg/L	Yes	5	B
21	Hamlin	3.500 mg/L	Yes	10	F
22	Benton	3.410 mg/L	Yes	1	D+
23	Mc Connellstown	3.400 mg/L	Yes	0	B
24	Berlin	3.370 mg/L	Yes	0	C+
25	Summit Hill	3.210 mg/L	Yes	1	B-
26	Coudersport	3.110 mg/L	Yes	3	F
27	Selinsgrove	3.100 mg/L	Yes	4	F
28	Bellwood	3.100 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
29	Springtown	3.100 mg/L	Yes	4	C-
30	Petrolia	3.000 mg/L	Yes	0	A-
31	Butler	2.982 mg/L	Yes	2	F
32	Dallas	2.900 mg/L	Yes	2	F
33	Emporium	2.880 mg/L	Yes	32	D+
34	Bedford	2.800 mg/L	Yes	50	F
35	Newmanstown	2.782 mg/L	Yes	2	C+
36	Ambler	2.780 mg/L	Yes	4	F
37	Dubois	2.780 mg/L	Yes	18	F
38	Milford	2.780 mg/L	Yes	29	F
39	Lancaster	2.765 mg/L	Yes	68	F
40	Jamestown	2.730 mg/L	Yes	7	D+
41	Weatherly	2.720 mg/L	Yes	3	D
42	Franklin	2.710 mg/L	Yes	12	F
43	Richland	2.700 mg/L	Yes	0	B-
44	Quakertown	2.670 mg/L	Yes	12	F
45	Moscow	2.660 mg/L	Yes	62	F
46	Ulster	2.650 mg/L	Yes	5	F
47	Scranton	2.640 mg/L	Yes	15	F
48	Torrance	2.640 mg/L	Yes	6	C-
49	Macungie	2.550 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
50	Nesquehoning	2.540 mg/L	Yes	6	F
51	Aliquippa	2.530 mg/L	Yes	9	F
52	Loysburg	2.500 mg/L	Yes	3	B-
53	Northampton	2.485 mg/L	Yes	45	F
54	Patton	2.467 mg/L	Yes	43	D+
55	Central City	2.460 mg/L	Yes	32	B
56	Saylorsburg	2.430 mg/L	Yes	47	F
57	Kutztown	2.410 mg/L	Yes	21	F
58	Honey Brook	2.400 mg/L	Yes	3	F
59	Tower City	2.400 mg/L	Yes	1	C-
60	Lykens	2.390 mg/L	Yes	19	F
61	Sheffield	2.390 mg/L	Yes	4	C+
62	Beech Creek	2.375 mg/L	Yes	0	F
63	Drums	2.335 mg/L	Yes	11	D
64	Hollidaysburg	2.300 mg/L	Yes	16	D
65	Tyrone	2.300 mg/L	Yes	6	F
66	East Brady	2.270 mg/L	Yes	4	C
67	Ringtown	2.250 mg/L	Yes	2	A-
68	Meyersdale	2.222 mg/L	Yes	8	F
69	Champion	2.210 mg/L	Yes	2	B-
70	Halifax	2.200 mg/L	Yes	5	C-
71	Harrisburg	2.190 mg/L	Yes	26	F
72	Shoemakersville	2.180 mg/L	Yes	6	B
73	Hughesville	2.160 mg/L	Yes	2	F
74	Berwyn	2.110 mg/L	Yes	9	D
75	Elizabethtown	2.100 mg/L	Yes	87	F
76	Stewartstown	2.100 mg/L	Yes	6	D
77	Adamstown	2.100 mg/L	Yes	2	B+
78	Port Allegany	2.090 mg/L	Yes	3	D
79	Birdsboro	2.052 mg/L	Yes	15	C
80	Philipsburg	2.040 mg/L	Yes	1	C
81	Alexandria	2.030 mg/L	Yes	4	C+
82	Pottstown	2.020 mg/L	Yes	29	F
83	Bloomsburg	2.020 mg/L	Yes	6	F
84	Ephrata	2.020 mg/L	Yes	21	C
85	Roulette	2.020 mg/L	Yes	7	F
86	Osterburg	2.000 mg/L	Yes	4	F
87	East Petersburg	1.990 mg/L	Yes	9	B
88	Jennerstown	1.980 mg/L	Yes	2	C+
89	Conyngham	1.970 mg/L	Yes	1	F
90	Sharon	1.965 mg/L	Yes	26	F
91	Parker	1.965 mg/L	Yes	40	F
92	Mcadoo	1.960 mg/L	Yes	4	B
93	Mapleton	1.940 mg/L	Yes	8	F
94	East Earl	1.930 mg/L	Yes	31	D+
95	Gettysburg	1.928 mg/L	Yes	37	F
96	Honesdale	1.925 mg/L	Yes	41	F
97	Topton	1.920 mg/L	Yes	4	C-
98	Lansdale	1.900 mg/L	Yes	22	F
99	Renovo	1.900 mg/L	Yes	13	F
100	Delaware (T)	1.900 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
101	Hidden Valley	1.900 mg/L	Yes	1	B
102	Hazleton	1.887 mg/L	Yes	6	D+
103	Mifflintown	1.850 mg/L	Yes	15	F
104	Intercourse	1.844 mg/L	Yes	1	C
105	Berwick	1.820 mg/L	Yes	7	F
106	Bellefonte	1.810 mg/L	Yes	11	F
107	Shrewsbury	1.800 mg/L	Yes	4	C-
108	Glasgow	1.800 mg/L	Yes	5	B-
109	Saxton	1.800 mg/L	Yes	5	F
110	Tidioute	1.800 mg/L	Yes	20	D
111	Myerstown	1.792 mg/L	Yes	6	C-
112	New Ringgold	1.790 mg/L	Yes	2	B
113	Gratz	1.780 mg/L	Yes	2	D+
114	Norristown	1.770 mg/L	Yes	23	F
115	Auburn	1.770 mg/L	Yes	6	D
116	Etters	1.740 mg/L	Yes	4	B
117	Quarryville	1.723 mg/L	Yes	16	D
118	Montoursville	1.722 mg/L	Yes	10	F
119	Beavertown	1.720 mg/L	Yes	2	D
120	Lakeville	1.702 mg/L	Yes	8	F
121	Lehighton	1.700 mg/L	Yes	53	F
122	East Greenville	1.700 mg/L	Yes	9	F
123	Irvona	1.700 mg/L	Yes	5	C-
124	Narvon	1.700 mg/L	Yes	20	F
125	Olyphant	1.690 mg/L	Yes	71	F
126	Christiana	1.685 mg/L	Yes	8	D+
127	Kunkletown	1.685 mg/L	Yes	7	F
128	Duncannon	1.680 mg/L	Yes	22	F
129	Fairview	1.678 mg/L	Yes	27	F
130	Bushkill	1.675 mg/L	Yes	9	F
131	Orwigsburg	1.670 mg/L	Yes	7	F
132	Freeland	1.655 mg/L	Yes	5	D
133	North Wales	1.614 mg/L	Yes	22	F
134	Lansford	1.610 mg/L	Yes	3	A-
135	Doylestown	1.600 mg/L	Yes	4	D
136	Buckingham	1.600 mg/L	Yes	0	F
137	Houtzdale	1.600 mg/L	Yes	9	B+
138	New Holland	1.600 mg/L	Yes	11	C
139	Walnutport	1.600 mg/L	Yes	11	F
140	Colver	1.600 mg/L	Yes	7	B
141	Liverpool	1.600 mg/L	Yes	14	B-
142	Jim Thorpe	1.590 mg/L	Yes	16	C-
143	Valley View	1.580 mg/L	Yes	1	B+
144	Delta	1.580 mg/L	Yes	1	B
145	Loganton	1.580 mg/L	Yes	10	F
146	Lords Valley	1.570 mg/L	Yes	10	F
147	Corry	1.570 mg/L	Yes	7	D
148	Penns Creek	1.550 mg/L	Yes	1	F
149	South Heights	1.540 mg/L	Yes	1	A-
150	Wernersville	1.540 mg/L	Yes	1	B-
151	Harwick	1.530 mg/L	Yes	3	B
152	Confluence	1.530 mg/L	Yes	33	F
153	Pine Grove	1.518 mg/L	Yes	4	C
154	Petersburg	1.513 mg/L	Yes	3	F
155	Elverson	1.510 mg/L	Yes	9	F
156	Lebanon	1.500 mg/L	Yes	8	F
157	Pottsville	1.500 mg/L	Yes	13	C-
158	White Haven	1.500 mg/L	Yes	44	F
159	Lititz	1.500 mg/L	Yes	73	F
160	Mill Hall	1.500 mg/L	Yes	29	F
161	Millersville	1.500 mg/L	Yes	2	C
162	Deerpark (T)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	14	D
163	Deerpark (T)	1.500 mg/L	Yes	1	B-
164	Allentown	1.490 mg/L	Yes	66	F
165	East Berlin	1.480 mg/L	Yes	5	F
166	Morgantown	1.475 mg/L	Yes	145	F
167	East Stroudsburg	1.474 mg/L	Yes	74	F
168	Sandy Lake	1.470 mg/L	Yes	0	D
169	Sewickley	1.461 mg/L	Yes	2	C+
170	Mars	1.460 mg/L	Yes	3	C+
171	Mill Creek	1.460 mg/L	Yes	0	B-
172	Mount Gretna	1.455 mg/L	Yes	4	F
173	Slippery Rock	1.454 mg/L	Yes	8	F
174	Mechanicsburg	1.450 mg/L	Yes	13	F
175	Palmerton	1.450 mg/L	Yes	2	C-
176	West Chester	1.450 mg/L	Yes	8	F
177	Orangeville	1.450 mg/L	Yes	2	D+
178	Tannersville	1.447 mg/L	Yes	13	F
179	Kreamer	1.440 mg/L	Yes	0	B-
180	Meadville	1.430 mg/L	Yes	21	F
181	Cheswick	1.430 mg/L	Yes	6	B
182	Millville	1.430 mg/L	Yes	4	F
183	Newtown	1.420 mg/L	Yes	25	F
184	Landisburg	1.420 mg/L	Yes	34	F
185	Austin	1.420 mg/L	Yes	3	F
186	Susquehanna	1.420 mg/L	Yes	1	C
187	Ligonier	1.410 mg/L	Yes	12	F
188	Shamokin	1.405 mg/L	Yes	18	F
189	Milton	1.405 mg/L	Yes	15	F
190	Mercersburg	1.400 mg/L	Yes	34	F
191	Smethport	1.400 mg/L	Yes	5	F
192	Gap	1.400 mg/L	Yes	16	F
193	Cochranton	1.390 mg/L	Yes	10	F
194	Commodore	1.390 mg/L	Yes	15	F
195	Bryn Mawr	1.380 mg/L	Yes	36	F
196	Reinholds	1.380 mg/L	Yes	0	B+
197	Shinglehouse	1.380 mg/L	Yes	0	F
198	Bowmanstown	1.380 mg/L	Yes	0	C
199	Manheim	1.370 mg/L	Yes	20	F
200	Columbia	1.360 mg/L	Yes	46	F
201	Union City	1.360 mg/L	Yes	36	D+
202	Indiana	1.356 mg/L	Yes	140	F
203	Waymart	1.355 mg/L	Yes	0	B
204	Rouseville	1.352 mg/L	Yes	2	F
205	Midland	1.350 mg/L	Yes	39	F
206	Williamsport	1.330 mg/L	Yes	19	F

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about copper in Pennsylvania

Is copper in Pennsylvania drinking water safe?

206 cities in Pennsylvania exceed the EPA action level of 1.3 mg/L for copper. The state average is 2.241 mg/L. Copper levels are highest in homes with copper plumbing, particularly when water sits in pipes overnight. Flushing the tap before use significantly reduces copper in drinking water.

What causes high copper levels in Pennsylvania tap water?

Copper typically leaches from copper pipes and brass fittings within homes, not from the water source itself. Corrosive (low pH or soft) water accelerates this leaching. Water utilities with high copper readings are required to adjust water chemistry to reduce corrosivity. You can reduce exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds before use.

More contaminants