Strontium Contamination

Strontium in Pennsylvania Drinking Water

Ranked by max strontium detected (µg/L) · UCMR 3 data (2013–2015) · Data from EPA SDWIS & UCMR

125

Cities Tested

Over HRL

10%

% Over HRL

590.4 µg/L

State Avg

▲ 4% vs national

vs National

487

Health Violations

Analysis

Strontium in Pennsylvania: what the data shows

Pennsylvania has 125 cities with strontium data from the EPA's UCMR 3 program (2013–2015). Strontium was detected above the 1,500 µg/L EPA health reference level in 12 of those cities. The state average max detected level is 590.4 µg/L. Strontium occurs naturally in groundwater, particularly in areas with limestone and dolomite geology. It can also enter water from industrial waste and mining operations. There is no federal MCL for strontium, but the EPA established a health reference level (HRL) of 1,500 µg/L. Long-term exposure to strontium above the HRL may affect bone health, particularly in children, by substituting for calcium in developing bones. Reverse osmosis and ion exchange systems are effective at removing strontium from drinking water.

Comparison

Cities exceeding 1,500 µg/L EPA HRL (no MCL)

Pennsylvania

10%

12 of 125 cities

→ ▲ 4% above national rate (worse)

National avg

250 of 4371 cities

City Map

Strontium data across Pennsylvania

Each dot is a city with UCMR 3 strontium testing data. Cities where strontium exceeds the 1,500 µg/L EPA health reference level are highlighted. Size reflects population served.

Worst Offenders

Top 10 cities by strontium level in Pennsylvania

Highest Strontium levels (µg/L)

All Cities

All Pennsylvania cities ranked by strontium level

#	City	Level	Over HRL?	Violations	Grade
1	Ephrata	6700.0 µg/L	Over HRL	21	C
2	Quakertown	4960.0 µg/L	Over HRL	12	F
3	Wilkes Barre	4351.0 µg/L	Over HRL	2	B+
4	Sellersville	3900.0 µg/L	Over HRL	9	F
5	Newtown	3714.7 µg/L	Over HRL	25	F
6	Doylestown	3400.0 µg/L	Over HRL	4	D
7	North Wales	3385.8 µg/L	Over HRL	22	F
8	Lansdale	3300.0 µg/L	Over HRL	22	F
9	Richboro	3240.0 µg/L	Over HRL	2	F
10	Warminster	2870.0 µg/L	Over HRL	1	D
11	Horsham	1820.0 µg/L	Over HRL	1	F
12	Mechanicsburg	1710.8 µg/L	Over HRL	13	F
13	Tunkhannock	1360.0 µg/L	No	21	F
14	Elizabethtown	1270.0 µg/L	No	87	F
15	East Stroudsburg	1100.0 µg/L	No	74	F
16	Gettysburg	1100.0 µg/L	No	37	F
17	Ambler	1060.0 µg/L	No	4	F
18	Bloomsburg	976.5 µg/L	No	6	F
19	White Haven	949.5 µg/L	No	44	F
20	Spring City	861.4 µg/L	No	2	B+
21	East Greenville	859.6 µg/L	No	9	F
22	Bryn Mawr	817.0 µg/L	No	36	F
23	Reading	804.7 µg/L	No	91	F
24	Yardley	717.1 µg/L	No	1	B+
25	Matamoras	661.5 µg/L	No	1	D
26	Dover	659.0 µg/L	No	16	F
27	Allentown	638.0 µg/L	No	66	F
28	Milton	634.9 µg/L	No	15	F
29	Huntingdon	493.0 µg/L	No	14	B-
30	Boiling Springs	470.0 µg/L	No	5	C+
31	Charleroi	446.0 µg/L	No	25	C-
32	Harrisburg	435.0 µg/L	No	26	F
33	Mcmurray	383.9 µg/L	No	2	A-
34	Southampton	340.1 µg/L	No	9	D
35	Lititz	339.0 µg/L	No	73	F
36	Oakdale	330.0 µg/L	No	12	C-
37	Rockwood	318.3 µg/L	No	0	C
38	Jamison	310.0 µg/L	No	1	B+
39	Uniontown	308.6 µg/L	No	0	A-
40	Carlisle	307.0 µg/L	No	13	F
41	Mcmurry	293.4 µg/L	No	3	A
42	Grove City	286.4 µg/L	No	4	C+
43	Portland	280.0 µg/L	No	5	B
44	South Heights	271.0 µg/L	No	1	A-
45	Pottsville	266.0 µg/L	No	13	C-
46	New Castle	259.0 µg/L	No	12	F
47	Allison Park	258.0 µg/L	No	0	A
48	Windber	250.0 µg/L	No	0	B-
49	Beaver Falls	240.0 µg/L	No	22	F
50	Aliquippa	238.0 µg/L	No	9	F
51	Lancaster	227.0 µg/L	No	68	F
52	Phoenixville	226.0 µg/L	No	13	C
53	Norristown	225.9 µg/L	No	23	F
54	Greensburg	220.0 µg/L	No	19	D
55	Philadelphia	215.0 µg/L	No	14	B
56	Clarks Summit	211.1 µg/L	No	6	C-
57	Erie	210.0 µg/L	No	35	D
58	Jefferson	210.0 µg/L	No	2	A-
59	Pottstown	208.0 µg/L	No	29	F
60	Tobyhanna	206.2 µg/L	No	10	F
61	Pittsburgh	200.0 µg/L	No	44	F
62	Cranberry Twp	200.0 µg/L	No	2	B+
63	Moon Township	200.0 µg/L	No	1	B
64	Sunbury	200.0 µg/L	No	6	C-
65	Franklin	191.0 µg/L	No	12	F
66	State College	180.0 µg/L	No	3	D
67	Fredericktown	180.0 µg/L	No	85	F
68	Whitehall	177.0 µg/L	No	32	B+
69	Kutztown	170.0 µg/L	No	21	F
70	New Kensington	160.0 µg/L	No	0	A
71	University Park	156.0 µg/L	No	0	C
72	Hummelstown	155.1 µg/L	No	35	C+
73	Mount Joy	151.0 µg/L	No	8	B+
74	Wilkinsburg	150.2 µg/L	No	6	B
75	Natrona Heights	150.0 µg/L	No	12	B-
76	Meadville	145.1 µg/L	No	21	F
77	Montoursville	142.7 µg/L	No	10	F
78	Oakmont	140.0 µg/L	No	0	A
79	Columbia	140.0 µg/L	No	46	F
80	Chester	130.0 µg/L	No	0	B
81	Warrington	130.0 µg/L	No	34	F
82	Clearfield	126.0 µg/L	No	3	A-
83	Monroeville	123.6 µg/L	No	4	A
84	Johnstown	120.0 µg/L	No	55	D
85	Adrian	119.3 µg/L	No	3	B+
86	St Thomas	110.0 µg/L	No	6	B
87	Shippensburg	107.0 µg/L	No	11	D
88	Fairless Hills	106.0 µg/L	No	15	D+
89	Levittown	105.0 µg/L	No	4	B
90	Northampton	103.0 µg/L	No	45	F
91	Morrisville	99.0 µg/L	No	39	D
92	Blandon	98.4 µg/L	No	0	B+
93	Emmaus	97.5 µg/L	No	16	C+
94	Sarver	96.2 µg/L	No	9	C+
95	Ambridge	90.8 µg/L	No	19	F
96	Easton	90.6 µg/L	No	37	F
97	Hanover	88.6 µg/L	No	6	B
98	Landisville	88.5 µg/L	No	2	B-
99	Danville	88.0 µg/L	No	3	D
100	Coatesville	87.6 µg/L	No	61	F
101	Sayre	83.0 µg/L	No	6	C-
102	Altoona	82.0 µg/L	No	64	F
103	Sharon	79.0 µg/L	No	26	F
104	Oil City	79.0 µg/L	No	2	A
105	Williamsport	76.8 µg/L	No	19	F
106	York	73.0 µg/L	No	34	F
107	Mc Connellstown	67.9 µg/L	No	0	B
108	Philipsburg	64.9 µg/L	No	1	C
109	Dallastown	58.0 µg/L	No	3	B+
110	Hazleton	57.4 µg/L	No	6	D+
111	Waynesboro	57.0 µg/L	No	7	D
112	Shamokin	56.0 µg/L	No	18	F
113	Dunbar	56.0 µg/L	No	12	B+
114	Red Lion	54.4 µg/L	No	0	C+
115	Warren	52.0 µg/L	No	7	D
116	Scranton	49.8 µg/L	No	15	F
117	Saint Marys	40.2 µg/L	No	10	B-
118	Lebanon	36.2 µg/L	No	8	F
119	Milroy	33.5 µg/L	No	2	B
120	Latrobe	33.3 µg/L	No	4	B-
121	Blairsville	30.0 µg/L	No	22	F
122	Chambersburg	29.2 µg/L	No	49	F
123	Bradford	24.0 µg/L	No	6	C+
124	Birdsboro	21.1 µg/L	No	15	C
125	Bethlehem	15.4 µg/L	No	29	F

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about strontium in Pennsylvania

Is strontium in Pennsylvania tap water harmful?

Strontium at low levels is not considered harmful, but the EPA set a health reference level (HRL) of 1,500 µg/L based on potential bone effects. 12 cities in Pennsylvania exceed this HRL. There is currently no federal MCL for strontium. Children may be more susceptible because strontium can substitute for calcium in developing bones.

How can I remove strontium from my drinking water?

Reverse osmosis and ion exchange (water softener) systems are effective at removing strontium from drinking water. Standard carbon filters are NOT effective. If your water comes from a well in an area with limestone or dolomite geology, consider testing for strontium.

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