Manganese Contamination

Manganese in Pennsylvania Drinking Water

Ranked by max manganese detected (µg/L) · UCMR 4 data (2018–2020) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

120

Cities Tested

Over SMCL

27%

% Over SMCL

74.6 µg/L

State Avg

▲ 9% vs national

vs National

487

Health Violations

Analysis

Manganese in Pennsylvania: what the data shows

Pennsylvania has 120 cities with manganese data from the EPA's UCMR 4 program (2018–2020). Manganese exceeded the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL in 32 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 74.6 µg/L. Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water. Elevated levels are common in areas with iron-rich geology and in systems that draw from reservoirs with low dissolved oxygen. The secondary MCL of 50 µg/L is based on aesthetic concerns (taste, staining), but health-based guidelines suggest neurological effects at higher concentrations. Emerging research links chronic manganese exposure in drinking water to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ and behavioral issues. Oxidation filtration and water softeners are effective at removing manganese from household water.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 50 µg/L EPA Secondary MCL

Pennsylvania

27%

32 of 120 cities

→ ▲ 9% above national rate (worse)

National avg

18%

729 of 4068 cities

City Map

Manganese data across Pennsylvania

Each dot is a city with UCMR 4 manganese testing data. Cities where manganese exceeds the 50 µg/L EPA secondary MCL are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by manganese level in Pennsylvania

Highest Manganese levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Pennsylvania cities ranked by manganese level

#	City	Level	Over SMCL?	Violations	Grade
1	East Bangor	2500.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	1	B-
2	Ambler	720.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	4	F
3	Milton	450.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	15	F
4	East Stroudsburg	429.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	74	F
5	Uniontown	420.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	0	A-
6	North Wales	336.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	22	F
7	Allentown	320.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	66	F
8	Wilkes Barre	270.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	B+
9	Horsham	255.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	1	F
10	Altoona	204.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	64	F
11	Oakdale	189.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	12	C-
12	Tobyhanna	166.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	10	F
13	Newtown	153.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	25	F
14	Clearfield	150.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	3	A-
15	Southampton	142.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	9	D
16	Meadville	122.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	21	F
17	Elizabethtown	91.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	87	F
18	Erie	85.5 µg/L	Over SMCL	35	D
19	Bryn Mawr	81.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	36	F
20	Richboro	80.2 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	F
21	Philipsburg	79.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	1	C
22	Greensburg	67.6 µg/L	Over SMCL	19	D
23	Slippery Rock	63.9 µg/L	Over SMCL	8	F
24	Mount Union	62.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	52	F
25	Huntingdon	61.9 µg/L	Over SMCL	14	B-
26	Sellersville	61.3 µg/L	Over SMCL	9	F
27	Warminster	59.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	1	D
28	Lansdale	57.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	22	F
29	Scranton	55.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	15	F
30	Shamokin	53.3 µg/L	Over SMCL	18	F
31	Latrobe	53.0 µg/L	Over SMCL	4	B-
32	Milroy	50.8 µg/L	Over SMCL	2	B
33	Bedford	49.0 µg/L	No	50	F
34	Portage	47.3 µg/L	No	7	F
35	Beaver	43.0 µg/L	No	0	F
36	Reading	42.6 µg/L	No	91	F
37	Blairsville	41.5 µg/L	No	22	F
38	Dillsburg	41.0 µg/L	No	1	B+
39	Pottsville	37.8 µg/L	No	13	C-
40	Lancaster	34.1 µg/L	No	68	F
41	Quakertown	33.7 µg/L	No	12	F
42	Columbia	33.6 µg/L	No	46	F
43	Aliquippa	31.5 µg/L	No	9	F
44	Johnstown	30.9 µg/L	No	55	D
45	Pittsburgh	29.4 µg/L	No	44	F
46	New Kensington	27.9 µg/L	No	0	A
47	Morgantown	26.7 µg/L	No	145	F
48	Hummelstown	21.0 µg/L	No	35	C+
49	Spring City	21.0 µg/L	No	2	B+
50	Northern Cambria	21.0 µg/L	No	1	D
51	New Castle	20.0 µg/L	No	12	F
52	Lebanon	19.8 µg/L	No	8	F
53	Hazleton	19.1 µg/L	No	6	D+
54	Charleroi	19.0 µg/L	No	25	C-
55	Easton	18.2 µg/L	No	37	F
56	Pottstown	17.8 µg/L	No	29	F
57	Harrisburg	17.4 µg/L	No	26	F
58	Waynesboro	17.3 µg/L	No	7	D
59	Gettysburg	16.8 µg/L	No	37	F
60	Whitehall	16.3 µg/L	No	32	B+
61	Bradford	15.3 µg/L	No	6	C+
62	Philadelphia	15.2 µg/L	No	14	B
63	Dover	14.2 µg/L	No	16	F
64	Yardley	13.0 µg/L	No	1	B+
65	Clarks Summit	12.0 µg/L	No	6	C-
66	Shippensburg	9.6 µg/L	No	11	D
67	Bloomsburg	9.4 µg/L	No	6	F
68	Sharon	8.9 µg/L	No	26	F
69	Levittown	8.5 µg/L	No	4	B
70	Monroeville	8.3 µg/L	No	4	A
71	Jamison	7.3 µg/L	No	1	B+
72	Mcmurry	7.1 µg/L	No	3	A
73	Mcmurray	6.9 µg/L	No	2	A-
74	Hanover	6.9 µg/L	No	6	B
75	Jefferson	6.9 µg/L	No	2	A-
76	Hooversville	6.5 µg/L	No	12	C
77	Mechanicsburg	6.1 µg/L	No	13	F
78	Warrington	5.7 µg/L	No	34	F
79	Clinton	5.2 µg/L	No	5	B
80	Belle Vernon	5.2 µg/L	No	13	D
81	Coatesville	5.0 µg/L	No	61	F
82	Fredericktown	5.0 µg/L	No	85	F
83	Chester	4.3 µg/L	No	0	B
84	Phoenixville	4.1 µg/L	No	13	C
85	Wyomissing	4.1 µg/L	No	0	A-
86	Bethlehem	4.0 µg/L	No	29	F
87	Wilkinsburg	3.9 µg/L	No	6	B
88	York	3.8 µg/L	No	34	F
89	Kutztown	3.4 µg/L	No	21	F
90	Allison Park	3.4 µg/L	No	0	A
91	St Thomas	3.4 µg/L	No	6	B
92	Fairless Hills	3.3 µg/L	No	15	D+
93	Saint Marys	3.3 µg/L	No	10	B-
94	Derry	3.1 µg/L	No	1	B
95	Dallastown	3.0 µg/L	No	3	B+
96	Norristown	2.7 µg/L	No	23	F
97	Dunbar	2.4 µg/L	No	12	B+
98	Gibsonia	2.4 µg/L	No	0	A+
99	Natrona Heights	2.3 µg/L	No	12	B-
100	Beaver Falls	2.3 µg/L	No	22	F
101	Greenville	1.8 µg/L	No	22	D
102	Cranberry Twp	1.7 µg/L	No	2	B+
103	South Heights	1.5 µg/L	No	1	A-
104	Emmaus	1.4 µg/L	No	16	C+
105	Chambersburg	1.4 µg/L	No	49	F
106	Mount Joy	1.3 µg/L	No	8	B+
107	Red Lion	1.1 µg/L	No	0	C+
108	Sunbury	1.1 µg/L	No	6	C-
109	Moon Township	1.0 µg/L	No	1	B
110	Ephrata	1.0 µg/L	No	21	C
111	Ambridge	1.0 µg/L	No	19	F
112	Oakmont	0.9 µg/L	No	0	A
113	Lehighton	0.9 µg/L	No	53	F
114	Carlisle	0.8 µg/L	No	13	F
115	State College	0.8 µg/L	No	3	D
116	Morrisville	0.7 µg/L	No	39	D
117	Williamsport	0.5 µg/L	No	19	F
118	Northampton	0.5 µg/L	No	45	F
119	Royalton	0.5 µg/L	No	2	B
120	Landisville	0.4 µg/L	No	2	B-

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about manganese in Pennsylvania

Is manganese in Pennsylvania tap water harmful?

The EPA secondary MCL for manganese is 50 µg/L, set primarily for aesthetic reasons (taste, color, staining). 32 cities in Pennsylvania exceed the secondary MCL. However, emerging research links chronic manganese exposure above 50–100 µg/L to neurodevelopmental effects in children, including reduced IQ.

How can I remove manganese from my drinking water?

Oxidation filtration (such as greensand or birm filters) is the most common and effective method for removing manganese from well water. Water softeners using ion exchange also work well. Standard carbon filters provide limited manganese removal. If your water has a metallic taste or brown/black discoloration, manganese may be the cause.

What causes high manganese in Pennsylvania water?

Manganese occurs naturally in groundwater and surface water, particularly in areas with iron-rich geology. Low dissolved oxygen conditions (common in deep wells and reservoir bottom waters) increase manganese solubility. Industrial sources include mining, steel production, and battery manufacturing. Seasonal changes in reservoir water chemistry can cause manganese spikes.

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