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Independence Park

What EPA’s and Pennsylvania’s records show in this utility’s water: PFAS; nitrate, arsenic and other regulated chemicals; lead and copper; and violations since 2016, with the certification that handles each result.

Serves
225 people
Connections
90
Water source
Groundwater
Based in
Morgantown, PA
County
Beaver
Owner
Private
The ZIP code it serves

15026

The short answer

1 result is above the limit’s level with no violation recorded, and 4 more are above the health goal. The worst: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), above the limit’s level, no violation. 3 health-based violations since 2016.

What handles it

What was found

PFAS: Pennsylvania’s own results under its PFAS rule, entry point samples taken from March 3, 2025 to Jan. 6, 2026.

Lead and copper: EPA SDWIS monitoring periods ending 1993 to 1996.

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), arsenic, haloacetic acids (HAA5), fluoride, nitrate, chromium (total) and uranium: Pennsylvania’s own results, samples taken from Sept. 2, 2020 to Sept. 1, 2026, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.

PFAS: PFOA, PFOS and PFBS were found, of the six PFAS in EPA’s 2024 drinking water rule; their results are below.

EPA’s 2024 PFAS rule, compound by compound

PFASEPA’s limitResult
PFOA4.0 pptAbove the health goal2.2 ppt highest, found in 1 of 5 samples. Details
PFOS4.0 pptAbove the health goal1.9 ppt highest, found in 1 of 5 samples. Details
PFHxS10 pptNot foundNot found in any of 5 samples
PFNA10 pptNot foundNot found in any of 5 samples
HFPO-DA (GenX)10 pptNot foundNot found in any of 5 samples
PFBSIndex onlyBelow EPA’s limits10 ppt highest, found in 2 of 5 samples. Details
Results from Pennsylvania’s own PFAS monitoring, samples where water enters the pipes; each compound’s card has its four-quarter averages, the way limits are judged. The limits are EPA’s 2024 rule, with compliance due from 2029; EPA has since proposed changes to some of them, explained on each compound’s page. Pennsylvania’s own limits for PFOA and PFOS are in force now. PFBS has no limit of its own and counts only toward EPA’s Hazard Index, which TapBuff works out only from UCMR 5’s averages, so it isn’t given here.

About PFAS certifications

NSF’s PFAS claims are tested to below 20 ppt. EPA’s limit is 4.0 ppt, and EPA says no certification yet shows a filter reaching its levels.

Above the limit’s level, no violation recorded1

Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)

Forms or is added in treatment

Above the limit’s level, no violation

92ppb

Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2026

2026 average: 27.5 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 92 ppb, in 2024, above EPA’s legal limit of 80 ppb. Its highest single sample was 114 ppb. In 2026, the latest year on file, its six samples averaged 27.5 ppb. EPA judges this limit on running averages at each sampling point, and recorded no violation for total trihalomethanes (TTHM) at this utility since 2020. Results like these with no violation often include water sampled before treatment or blending; the utility’s annual report says what reaches the tap. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 57 ppb, in 2015, and EPA recorded a violation in 2018.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”

Above the health goal4

PFOA

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

2.2ppt

Highest sample, July 14, 2025; found in 1 of 5

2026: not found

The highest sample was 2.2 ppt: below EPA’s new limit of 4.0 ppt, which takes effect in 2029, but above its health goal of zero. Averaged over four quarters at one entry point, the way both Pennsylvania’s limit and EPA’s are judged, the highest was 0.55 ppt, for the year to Dec. 31, 2025: below Pennsylvania’s limit of 14 ppt and below EPA’s new limit of 4.0 ppt. In 2026, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in its one sample.

What handles it

PFOS

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

1.9ppt

Highest sample, July 14, 2025; found in 1 of 5

2026: not found

The highest sample was 1.9 ppt: below EPA’s new limit of 4.0 ppt, which takes effect in 2029, but above its health goal of zero. Averaged over four quarters at one entry point, the way both Pennsylvania’s limit and EPA’s are judged, the highest was 0.47 ppt, for the year to Dec. 31, 2025: below Pennsylvania’s limit of 18 ppt and below EPA’s new limit of 4.0 ppt. In 2026, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in its one sample.

What handles it

Arsenic

Comes from the source

Above the health goal

1.5ppb

Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2024

2024: not found

Averaged by year, the highest was 1.5 ppb, in 2021: below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppb, but above its health goal of zero. In 2024, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in its one sample.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction”

Lead

Comes from pipes, often your own

Above the health goal

1.0ppb

90th percentile, 1996

In the latest period, 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below 1.0 ppb, below EPA’s action level of 15 ppb. The action level drops to 10 ppb on Nov. 1, 2027. EPA’s health goal for lead is zero.

What handles it

Below EPA’s limits4

Haloacetic acids (HAA5)

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

19.6ppb

Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2026

2026 average: 13.8 ppb

Averaged by year, the highest was 19.6 ppb, in 2025, below EPA’s legal limit of 60 ppb. Its highest single sample was 34.7 ppb. In 2026, the latest year on file, its six samples averaged 13.8 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 6.8 ppb, in 2015, and EPA recorded a violation in 2018.

What handles it

No certification claim covers this compound yet.

Fluoride

Forms or is added in treatment

Below EPA’s limits

0.86ppm

Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2024

2024, one sample: 0.73 ppm

Averaged by year, the highest was 0.86 ppm, in 2021, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. In 2024, the latest year on file, its one sample was 0.73 ppm. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 1.0 ppm, in 2015.

What handles it

Nitrate

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

0.46ppm

Highest sample; found in 2 of 7

2026, one sample: 0.14 ppm

The highest sample, in 2023, was 0.46 ppm, below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm. In 2026, the latest year on file, its one sample was 0.14 ppm.

What handles it

  • NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction”
  • NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)”

PFBS

Comes from the source

Below EPA’s limits

10ppt

Highest sample, July 14, 2025; found in 2 of 5

2026: not found

The highest sample was 10 ppt, below EPA’s hazard index benchmark of 2,000 ppt. PFBS has no legal limit or health goal of its own. In 2026, the latest year on file, it wasn’t found in its one sample.

What handles it

5 compounds tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.

From routine monitoring

  • Chromium (total)
  • Uranium

PFAS, from Pennsylvania’s own monitoring

  • HFPO-DA (GenX)
  • PFHxS
  • PFNA

What handles it

A certification covers specific claims, not a whole standard. Look for these claims on the certifier’s listing, not the box. Wording varies a little: NSF writes “Lead Reduction,” WQA just “Lead.”

  • NSF/ANSI 53

    Claims: Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction, PFOA Reduction, PFOS Reduction, Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction, Lead Reduction

    For: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), PFOA, PFOS, Arsenic, Lead

    Other certifiers’ wording: VOC Reduction; Total PFAS Reduction; Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA); Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS); Arsenic (III) (50 ppb influent level)

  • NSF/ANSI 58

    Claims: Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction, Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=50 ppb Reduction, Lead Reduction

    For: Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), PFOA, PFOS, Arsenic, Lead

    Other certifiers’ wording: Arsenic (Pentavalent)<=300 ppb Reduction; Arsenic (V) (300 ppb influent level)

At the tap, or for the whole house?

Lead and copper usually come from pipes and fixtures inside or near your home. A whole-house system sits where water enters, so it cannot catch what your own plumbing adds after it. For those, the filter that counts is the one at the tap. How whole-house systems compare.

Filters with those claims on a certifier’s listing

Disclosure: TapBuff earns a commission if you buy through some links on this page. It does not change which standard or filter we name. As an Amazon Associate, TapBuff earns from qualifying purchases. How TapBuff makes money

Compare five-year costs

The best water filters for PFAS, ranked

The best reverse osmosis systems, ranked

The best water filters for lead, ranked

Violations since 2016

Contaminant or ruleTypePeriodMeasuredStatus
TTHMThe running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageJuly 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, 201820 MG/LResolved
Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5)The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, AverageJuly 1, 2018 to Sept. 30, 20185.2 MG/LResolved
Groundwater RuleRequired treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR)Feb. 1, 2017 to Feb. 28, 2017—Resolved
Health-based violations only. Resolved and archived mean the utility returned to compliance or the state closed the record. 25 monitoring or reporting violations not shown.

What this report can’t tell you

  • Everything else. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), arsenic, haloacetic acids (HAA5), fluoride, nitrate, chromium (total) and uranium results here are Pennsylvania’s own from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Independence Park’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has the contaminants this page does not show.

  • Your own plumbing. Lead results are the 90th percentile across homes the utility samples. Your home’s service line, solder and fixtures decide yours. A certified lab test is the only way to know.

  • What it means for your health. This page reports what the records show and EPA’s limits and goals; it is not medical advice. If you are worried about a health effect, talk to a doctor or your local health department.

  • Anything after the latest data. SDWIS data is from 2026 Q3; UCMR 5 didn’t sample this utility; Pennsylvania’s results run from Sept. 2, 2020 to Sept. 1, 2026; Pennsylvania’s PFAS results run from March 3, 2025 to Jan. 6, 2026.

Testing your own tap

Independence Park’s results are for the water it sends out. What your own service line, solder and fixtures add shows up only in a test of your tap, by a lab Pennsylvania certifies.

The 3 labs Pennsylvania certifies closest to the area Independence Park serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.

  • Allegheny County Health Department Public Health Laboratory

    Warrendale, PA · about 18 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (412) 578-8070

  • Microbac Laboratories, Inc. Pittsburgh Division

    Warrendale, PA · about 18 miles

    Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics

    (724) 772-0610

  • Dream Pools and Spas Inc

    Pittsburgh, PA · about 23 miles

    Certified for bacteria

    (412) 661-7665

Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Laboratory: Drinking water test kits from many county Extension offices, mailed back to the lab overnight with payment. Packages cover bacteria and basic chemistry, with add-ons for nitrate, metals, lead, and mining or gas drilling concerns. The standard package of bacteria, pH and total dissolved solids is $60, or $70 with nitrate; bacteria alone is $40, nitrate $15 and lead $25. Drinking Water Testing, Penn State Agricultural Analytical Services Lab.

All 108 certified labs for Pennsylvania

Sources

PWSID PA5040019. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.

Also in Beaver County

All Pennsylvania utilities

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