Pithole Water Association
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
- 87 people
- Connections
- 40
- Water source
- Groundwater
- Based in
- Smethport, PA
- County
- McKean
- Owner
- Private
- Hardness
- Soft
The ZIP code it serves
The short answer
1 result is above EPA’s legal limit. The worst: Lead, above the action level. 38 health-based violations since 2016.
What handles itWhat was found
PFAS: Pennsylvania’s own results under its PFAS rule, entry point samples taken from Feb. 25, 2025 to Dec. 10, 2025.
Lead and copper: EPA SDWIS monitoring periods ending 1997.
Copper: EPA’s file records a utility’s copper only when it exceeds the action level. The last here was 4.0 ppm, for the period ending Sept. 30, 2019. None since is on file, so it is not counted as a current finding.
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), fluoride, arsenic, chromium (total), haloacetic acids (HAA5), nitrate and uranium: Pennsylvania’s own results, samples taken from Sept. 14, 2020 to Sept. 12, 2025, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.
PFAS: None of the six PFAS in EPA’s 2024 drinking water rule was found in this utility’s samples.
EPA’s 2024 PFAS rule, compound by compound
| PFAS | EPA’s limit | Result |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 4.0 ppt | Not foundNot found in any of 4 samples |
| PFOS | 4.0 ppt | Not foundNot found in any of 4 samples |
| PFHxS | 10 ppt | Not foundNot found in any of 4 samples |
| PFNA | 10 ppt | Not foundNot found in any of 4 samples |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | 10 ppt | Not foundNot found in any of 4 samples |
| PFBS | Index only | Not foundNot found in any of 4 samples |
| 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. | ||
Above the legal limit1
Lead
Comes from pipes, often your own
16ppb
90th percentile, 1997
In the latest period, 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below 16 ppb, above EPA’s action level of 15 ppb. The action level drops to 10 ppb on Nov. 1, 2027, and this result is at or above that. EPA’s health goal for lead is zero.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Lead Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Lead Reduction”
Below EPA’s limits2
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)
Forms or is added in treatment
15.2ppb
Highest yearly average, 2022 to 2025
2025, one sample: 9.4 ppb
Averaged by year, the highest was 15.2 ppb, in 2022, below EPA’s legal limit of 80 ppb. In 2025, the latest year on file, its one sample was 9.4 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 35 ppb, in 2016.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
Fluoride
Forms or is added in treatment
0.17ppm
Highest yearly average, 2021 to 2024
Averaged by year, the highest was 0.17 ppm, in 2024, below EPA’s legal limit of 4.0 ppm. That was also the latest year on file.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Fluoride Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Fluoride”
11 compounds tested and not foundIncluding all six PFAS in EPA’s 2024 rule. Below the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
From routine monitoring
- Arsenic
- Chromium (total)
- Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
- Nitrate
- Uranium
PFAS, from Pennsylvania’s own monitoring
- HFPO-DA (GenX)
- PFBS
- PFHxS
- PFNA
- PFOA
- PFOS
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
Claim: Lead Reduction
For: Lead
- NSF/ANSI 58
Claim: Lead Reduction
For: Lead
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
Brita Tahoe Pitcher with Elite Filter (OB60, OB06)
Pitcher
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 13, 2026
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 53checked Oct. 13, 2026
Certified for: Lead
Brita Everyday Pitcher with Elite Filter (OB46, OB06)
Pitcher
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 13, 2026
Certified for: Lead
PUR PLUS 11-Cup Pitcher (PPT111W)
Pitcher
- NSF listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: Lead
ZeroWater 10 Cup Pitcher (ZP-010)
Pitcher
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: Lead
Culligan 10-Cup Pitcher with ZeroWater Technology (ZEROP10)
Pitcher
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: Lead
Hardness
Soft, 59 mg/L (3.5 grains per gallon), at its one sampling point, in 2026.
Hardness is calcium and magnesium. EPA sets no limit for it: it shows up as scale on fixtures and in water heaters, and as soap that won’t lather. USGS calls water above 60 mg/L moderately hard, above 120 hard and above 180 very hard.
Violations since 2016
| Contaminant or rule | Type | Period | Measured | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Nov. 1, 2024 to Nov. 30, 2024 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Sept. 1, 2024 to Sept. 30, 2024 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Aug. 1, 2024 to Aug. 31, 2024 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | July 1, 2024 to July 31, 2024 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | June 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | May 1, 2024 to May 31, 2024 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | April 1, 2024 to April 30, 2024 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | March 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Feb. 1, 2024 to Feb. 29, 2024 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Jan. 1, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2024 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Dec. 1, 2023 to Dec. 31, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Nov. 1, 2023 to Nov. 30, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Oct. 1, 2023 to Oct. 31, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Sept. 1, 2023 to Sept. 30, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Aug. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | July 1, 2023 to July 31, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | June 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | May 1, 2023 to May 31, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | April 1, 2023 to April 30, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | March 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Feb. 1, 2023 to Feb. 28, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Jan. 1, 2023 to Jan. 31, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Dec. 1, 2022 to Dec. 31, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Nov. 1, 2022 to Nov. 30, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Oct. 1, 2022 to Oct. 31, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Sept. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | Aug. 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | July 1, 2022 to July 31, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | June 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | May 1, 2022 to May 31, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | April 1, 2022 to April 30, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Lead and Copper Rule | A required study or plan for corrosion control was not done on time.EPA: OCCT/SOWT Study/Recommendation | April 1, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Coliform or E. coli results required a detailed review of the system, and it or its fixes were not done on time.EPA: Treatment Technique, Level 2 Assessment (RTCR) | May 21, 2021 | — | Resolved |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Coliform results required a check of the system, and the check or its fixes were not done on time.EPA: Treatment Technique, Level 1 Assessment (RTCR) | Sept. 12, 2020 | — | Resolved |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Coliform results required a check of the system, and the check or its fixes were not done on time.EPA: Treatment Technique, Level 1 Assessment (RTCR) | Dec. 14, 2018 | — | Resolved |
| Groundwater Rule | Required treatment for surface water or groundwater was not met.EPA: Treatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) | June 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 | — | Resolved |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | E. coli was confirmed in the water system.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) | June 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 | — | Resolved |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | E. coli was confirmed in the water system.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) | Aug. 1, 2016 to Aug. 31, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Health-based violations only. Resolved and archived mean the utility returned to compliance or the state closed the record. 180 monitoring or reporting violations not shown. | ||||
What this report can’t tell you
Everything else. Total trihalomethanes (TTHM), fluoride, arsenic, chromium (total), haloacetic acids (HAA5), nitrate and uranium results here are Pennsylvania’s own from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Pithole Water Association’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. 14, 2020 to Sept. 12, 2025; Pennsylvania’s PFAS results run from Feb. 25, 2025 to Dec. 10, 2025.
Testing your own tap
The 3 labs Pennsylvania certifies closest to the area Pithole Water Association serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.
Cattaraugus County Department of Health Laboratory
Olean, NY · about 20 miles
Certified for bacteria
White Oak Laboratory LLC
Ridgway, PA · about 31 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate, minerals and other inorganics
Pace Analytical Services, LLC - Dubois
Dubois, PA · about 48 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate
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 PennsylvaniaSources
- EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data, file of Oct. 15, 2026
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Drinking Water Reporting System, PFAS results read Oct. 17, 2026
- EPA SDWA bulk download (SDWIS federal data), 2026 Q3
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Drinking Water Reporting System, results from Jan. 2, 2020 to Oct. 8, 2026, read Oct. 17, 2026
- EPA Six-Year Review 4 compliance monitoring data, 2012 to 2019, file of Feb. 5, 2024
- Certified labs: Pennsylvania DEP Laboratory Accreditation Program, accredited labs for drinking water, read Oct. 11, 2026; distances from the Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation area gazetteer
- Hardness: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Drinking Water Reporting System, results from Aug. 12, 2026 to Aug. 12, 2026, read Oct. 17, 2026
- Limits and goals: each contaminant’s page, with its EPA source.
- How this page is built: methodology.
PWSID PA6420031. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.
What to do next
- Read up on LeadWhat each one does to health, where it comes from, and the certification claim that addresses it.About Lead
- Get the utility’s own reportPithole Water Association must send you a water quality report every year. It covers contaminants this page does not show.How to read it
- Test your own tap for leadYour service line, solder and fixtures decide the lead at your faucet, not the utility’s average.Lead in your water: what to do
- Compare certified filtersWhat the filters certified for these results cost over five years, cartridges included.Compare five-year costs