Philadelphia County tap water: hardness, PFAS and lead
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania has about 1,573,916 residents (Census 2024 estimate) and 1 community water system in EPA records. The largest local system is Philadelphia Water Department, serving about 1,600,000 people from surface water.
✓ 0 of 1 largest systems with health-based violationsPFAS detected at 1 of 1 sampled systemsHardness 72–270 mg/L, varies by area
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
How hard is Philadelphia County water?
Philadelphia Water DepartmentMeasured (utility report, 2025) · High confidence
72–270 mg/L(varies by area; no single average published)
Baxter WTP: 101 mg/L (5.9 gpg), range 72–121 mg/L
Belmont WTP: 151 mg/L (8.8 gpg), range 99–204 mg/L
Queen Lane WTP: 169 mg/L (9.9 gpg), range 119–270 mg/L
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
Softener size at 9.9 gpg
For a 3-person home using 57 gallons per person per day and regenerating weekly, you'd remove about 11,850 grains between regenerations. Suggested size: 24,000 grain. Hardness varies by area here, so this uses the harder plant's figure (9.9 gpg). If your address gets softer water, a smaller unit may do; check your area in the utility report or test your tap.
Estimate only. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
The 1 biggest of 1 community water systems on EPA records for this county. Service areas don't follow county lines; your water bill names your provider.
Philadelphia Water Department
PA1510001 · serves about 1,600,000 people · Surface water
✓ No health-based violations✓ Lead below action levelPFAS detected (8 types)
Lead 90th percentile: 2 ppb (period starting 2025-06-01). Action level: 15 ppb (drops to 10 ppb on Nov 1, 2027).
PFBS: highest sample 10 ppt (7 of 12 samples); no individual limit; counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit
PFPeA: highest sample 9.9 ppt (9 of 12 samples); no federal limit
PFHxA: highest sample 9.1 ppt (10 of 12 samples); no federal limit
PFOA: highest sample 8.1 ppt (8 of 12 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFBA: highest sample 7.6 ppt (4 of 12 samples); no federal limit
PFOS: highest sample 6 ppt (6 of 12 samples); federal limit 4.0 ppt as a running annual average
PFNA: highest sample 4.5 ppt (2 of 12 samples); federal limit 10.0 ppt as a running annual average, also counted in EPA's PFAS mixture (hazard index) limit (currently in effect; EPA has proposed removing it)
PFHpA: highest sample 3.3 ppt (4 of 12 samples); no federal limit
Public-record figures, not a test of your tap. Not 100% accurate or guaranteed. Confirm with a water test, your utility or a qualified pro before you buy or act.
A PFAS detection is not a violation. Federal limits (4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS) apply to running annual averages, with compliance required by 2029. In May 2026 EPA proposed extending the PFOA/PFOS deadline to 2031 and removing other PFAS limits; not final as of 2026-10-21.
Test your own tap
These are public records for whole systems. Your home's pipes, fixtures and any private well can change what you drink. A certified lab test or a hardness test strip gives you your own numbers. Then use our PFAS and lead filter selector to see which certifications to look for.
Common questions about Philadelphia County water
Is tap water in Philadelphia County safe to drink?
None of the 1 largest systems here have a health-based violation in EPA records since October 2021. Philadelphia Water Department's most recent lead 90th percentile was 2 ppb (2025), below the 15 ppb action level. Public records can't guarantee what comes out of your tap, especially with older plumbing, so a home test is the surest check.
How hard is the water in Philadelphia County?
Philadelphia Water Department reports hardness from 72 to 270 mg/L depending on where you live, with no single system-wide average, so check your area in its report or test your water. For a 3-person home at 9.9 gpg (the harder plant's figure, since your address may get either), our softener calculator suggests a 24,000 grain unit as a starting point.
Is there PFAS in Philadelphia County water?
1 of the 1 sampled system listed here detected at least one PFAS in EPA's UCMR 5 testing, and 2 results were above the level of a federal limit in at least one sample. A detection isn't a violation: federal PFAS limits apply to running annual averages starting in 2029.
Which water system serves my address in Philadelphia County?
Most homes are served by Philadelphia Water Department or one of the other systems listed on this page, but service areas don't follow county lines. Your water bill names your provider, and its annual Consumer Confidence Report has the full test results.
Data as of October 21, 2026. Figures are copied from public records and combined with our own calculations; they can be out of date or wrong. Tapped Out isn't affiliated with any utility or the EPA. Written and reviewed by the Tapped Out team. How we calculate · All sources.