Is Pennwyn, PA tap water safe?
The short answer
2 of the 3 utilities serving Pennwyn have a result above a legal limit or action level, or a health-based violation since 2016, in EPA’s and Pennsylvania’s records: Shillington Muni Auth and Reading Area Water Authority.
Shillington Muni Auth, which serves the most people here, has nothing above a health goal in EPA’s and Pennsylvania’s records. That data covers what its report lists, not everything.
A town can be served by more than one utility, and some homes are on private wells. The name on your water bill tells you which is yours, and your ZIP code narrows it down. They are listed by how many people each serves in Pennwyn’s ZIP codes, from EPA’s estimates.
- Open report
Shillington Muni Auth
Pennsylvania · serves 13,300 people · about 380 in Pennwyn
Nothing in its records is above a health goal.
2 health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Reading Area Water Authority
Pennsylvania · serves 95,100 people · about 280 in Pennwyn
1 result above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029 and 1 result above the health goal. The worst: PFOA at 8.5 ppt, above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029.
4 health-based violations since 2016
- Open report
Aqua PA Flying Hills WA Sys
Pennsylvania · serves 5,100 people · about 140 in Pennwyn
2 results above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029 and 3 results above the health goal. The worst: PFOA at 9.0 ppt, above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029.
No health-based violations since 2016
Water testing near Pennwyn
The 3 labs Pennsylvania certifies closest to Pennwyn, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.
M. J. Reider Associates Inc
Reading, PA · about 4 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics, organic chemicals, disinfection byproducts, PFAS
SPL - Reading
Reading, PA · about 9 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate, lead and copper, metals, minerals and other inorganics, organic chemicals, disinfection byproducts, PFAS, radioactivity
Waypoint Analytical - PA Inc.
Leola, PA · about 17 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 PennsylvaniaWhich ZIP codes are in Pennwyn: Census 2020 relationship files. Which utilities serve them, and how many people: EPA SDWIS and EPA’s service area map. Each utility’s results: EPA UCMR 5, EPA SDWIS, and EPA’s and the state’s compliance monitoring, as its report lists them. How they are measured: methodology. Certified labs: Pennsylvania DEP Laboratory Accreditation Program, accredited labs for drinking water; distances from the Census 2020 ZIP code tabulation area gazetteer.
Near Pennwyn
Other towns in Berks County with a page of their own.
What to do next
- Read Shillington Muni Auth’s full reportEvery result with its dates, the violations, and the certification claim that handles each finding.Open the report
- Decide if you want a filter at allA filter for taste or chlorine is a preference, not a need. The standards say what each kind can do.NSF/ANSI standards, decoded
- On a private well?No utility tests a well. A certified lab test is the first step.How to test well water