Ulster Municipal Authority
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
- 500 people
- Connections
- 199
- Water source
- Groundwater influenced by surface water
- Based in
- Ulster, PA
- County
- Bradford
- Owner
- Local government
The ZIP code it serves
The short answer
2 results are above EPA’s legal limit, and 2 more are above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 2029. The worst: Copper, above the action level. 1 health-based violation since 2016.
What handles itWhat was found
PFAS: Pennsylvania’s own results under its PFAS rule, entry point samples taken from Feb. 28, 2024 to Nov. 12, 2024.
Lead and copper: EPA SDWIS monitoring periods ending 2015 to 2024.
Haloacetic acids (HAA5), nitrate, total trihalomethanes (TTHM), arsenic, chromium (total) and fluoride: Pennsylvania’s own results, samples taken from March 10, 2020 to Sept. 15, 2026, with EPA’s 2012 to 2019 file for earlier years.
Uranium: EPA’s compliance monitoring file, samples taken from April 24, 2018 to April 24, 2018. Newer results are in the utility’s annual water quality report.
PFAS: PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS and PFBS were found, of the six PFAS in EPA’s 2024 drinking water rule; their results are below. One other PFAS with no federal limit was found, the highest PFHxA at 1.6 ppt: see it below.
EPA’s 2024 PFAS rule, compound by compound
| PFAS | EPA’s limit | Result |
|---|---|---|
| PFOA | 4.0 ppt | Above EPA’s new limit (2029)4.2 ppt highest, found in 1 of 5 samples. Details |
| PFOS | 4.0 ppt | Above EPA’s new limit (2029)4.9 ppt highest, found in 5 of 5 samples. Details |
| PFHxS | 10 ppt | Below EPA’s limits1.8 ppt highest, found in 1 of 2 samples. Details |
| PFNA | 10 ppt | Not foundNot found in any of 2 samples |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | 10 ppt | Not foundNot found in any of 3 samples |
| PFBS | Index only | Below EPA’s limits3.6 ppt highest, found in 3 of 3 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 legal limit2
Copper
Comes from pipes, often your own
2.6ppm
90th percentile, 2024
In the latest period, 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below 2.6 ppm, above EPA’s action level of 1.3 ppm.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Copper Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Copper Reduction”
Lead
Comes from pipes, often your own
20.8ppb
90th percentile, 2013
In the latest period, 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below 20.8 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”
Above EPA’s new limit, which takes effect in 20292
PFOS
Comes from the source
4.9ppt
Highest sample, Nov. 12, 2024; found in 5 of 5
2024 average: 3.3 ppt
The highest sample was 4.9 ppt, above EPA’s new limit of 4.0 ppt, which takes effect in 2029. EPA’s health goal is zero. Compliance will be judged on a running annual average, not one sample. Averaged over four quarters at one entry point, the way both Pennsylvania’s limit and EPA’s are judged, the highest was 3.4 ppt, for the year to Dec. 31, 2024: below Pennsylvania’s limit of 18 ppt and below EPA’s new limit of 4.0 ppt. Its only year on file is 2024, when its five samples averaged 3.3 ppt.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “PFOS Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)”
PFOA
Comes from the source
4.2ppt
Highest sample, Nov. 12, 2024; found in 1 of 5
2024 average: 0.84 ppt
The highest sample was 4.2 ppt, above EPA’s new limit of 4.0 ppt, which takes effect in 2029. EPA’s health goal is zero. Compliance will be judged on a running annual average, not one sample. Averaged over four quarters at one entry point, the way both Pennsylvania’s limit and EPA’s are judged, the highest was 1.1 ppt, for the year to Dec. 31, 2024: below Pennsylvania’s limit of 14 ppt and below EPA’s new limit of 4.0 ppt. Its only year on file is 2024, when its five samples averaged 0.84 ppt.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “PFOA Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)”
Below EPA’s limits5
Haloacetic acids (HAA5)
Forms or is added in treatment
23.9ppb
Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2026
2026 average: 11.5 ppb
Averaged by year, the highest was 23.9 ppb, in 2021, below EPA’s legal limit of 60 ppb. Its highest single sample was 32 ppb. In 2026, the latest year on file, its three samples averaged 11.5 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 20.1 ppb, in 2017.
What handles it
No certification claim covers this compound yet.
Nitrate
Comes from the source
2.9ppm
Highest sample; found in 7 of 7
2026, one sample: 1.9 ppm
The highest sample, in 2022, was 2.9 ppm, below EPA’s legal limit of 10 ppm. In 2026, the latest year on file, its one sample was 1.9 ppm. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest sample of 4.2 ppm, in 2013.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Nitrate/Nitrite (30 ppm challenge)”
Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)
Forms or is added in treatment
23ppb
Highest yearly average, 2020 to 2026
2026 average: 20.7 ppb
Averaged by year, the highest was 23 ppb, in 2021, below EPA’s legal limit of 80 ppb. Its highest single sample was 34 ppb. In 2026, the latest year on file, its three samples averaged 20.7 ppb. Earlier, from 2012 to 2019, EPA’s file shows a highest yearly average of 33.1 ppb, in 2016.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
- NSF/ANSI 58 look for “Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Reduction”
PFHxS
Comes from the source
1.8ppt
Highest sample, Nov. 12, 2024; found in 1 of 2
2024 average: 0.9 ppt
The highest sample was 1.8 ppt, below EPA’s new limit of 10 ppt, which takes effect in 2029. No entry point has four quarters of results in a row to average, the way EPA’s limit is judged. Its only year on file is 2024, when its two samples averaged 0.9 ppt.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Total PFAS Reduction”
PFBS
Comes from the source
3.6ppt
Highest sample, Nov. 12, 2024; found in 3 of 3
2024 average: 2.5 ppt
The highest sample was 3.6 ppt, below EPA’s hazard index benchmark of 2,000 ppt. PFBS has no legal limit or health goal of its own. Its only year on file is 2024, when its three samples averaged 2.5 ppt.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53 look for “Total PFAS Reduction”
Also found, with no federal limit
EPA measured these PFAS to learn how often they occur. None has a legal limit or a health goal yet.
| Compound | Highest sample | Found in | Certification claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFHxA | 1.6 ppt | 1 of 2 | None covers it |
28 compounds tested and not foundBelow the reporting level in every sample. Not found is not the same as zero.
From routine monitoring
- Arsenic
- Chromium (total)
- Fluoride
- Uranium
PFAS, from Pennsylvania’s own monitoring
- 11Cl-PF3OUdS
- 4:2 FTS
- 6:2 FTS
- 8:2 FTS
- 9Cl-PF3ONS
- ADONA
- HFPO-DA (GenX)
- NEtFOSAA
- NFDHA
- NMeFOSAA
- PFBA
- PFDA
- PFDoA
- PFEESA
- PFHpA
- PFHpS
- PFMBA
- PFMPA
- PFNA
- PFPeA
- PFPeS
- PFTA
- PFTrDA
- PFUnA
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: Copper Reduction, Lead Reduction, PFOS Reduction, PFOA Reduction
For: Copper, Lead, PFOS, PFOA
Other certifiers’ wording: Total PFAS Reduction; Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS); Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
- NSF/ANSI 58
Claims: Copper Reduction, Lead Reduction, Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
For: Copper, Lead, PFOS, PFOA
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
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: Copper, Lead, PFOS, PFOA
Culligan 10-Cup Pitcher with ZeroWater Technology (ZEROP10)
Pitcher
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: Copper, Lead, PFOS, PFOA
Aquasana SmartFlow Reverse Osmosis (AQ-SFRO2)
Under-sink reverse osmosis
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: Copper, Lead, PFOS, PFOA
Brondell Capella RC250 Reverse Osmosis System
Under-sink reverse osmosis
- WQA listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 9, 2026
Certified for: Copper, Lead, PFOS, PFOA
Countertop reverse osmosis
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: Copper, Lead, PFOS, PFOA
Violations since 2016
| Contaminant or rule | Type | Period | Measured | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | A required study or plan for corrosion control was not done on time.EPA: OCCT/SOWT Study/Recommendation | April 1, 2016 | — | Resolved |
| Health-based violations only. Resolved and archived mean the utility returned to compliance or the state closed the record. 34 monitoring or reporting violations not shown. | ||||
What this report can’t tell you
Everything else. Haloacetic acids (HAA5), nitrate, total trihalomethanes (TTHM), arsenic, chromium (total) and fluoride results here are Pennsylvania’s own from 2020 on, with EPA’s national file for 2012 to 2019. Uranium comes from EPA’s file alone, which ends in 2019. Ulster Municipal Authority’s own annual report, which it must send you every year, has newer results for those and 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 March 10, 2020 to Sept. 15, 2026; EPA’s compliance samples are from April 24, 2018 to April 24, 2018; Pennsylvania’s PFAS results run from Feb. 28, 2024 to Nov. 12, 2024.
Testing your own tap
The 3 labs Pennsylvania certifies closest to the area Ulster Municipal Authority serves, in a straight line. Call first: certification is test by test, and not every lab takes samples from homeowners.
Pace Analytical Services, LLC - Wysox
Wysox, PA · about 7 miles
Certified for bacteria
LEAP Testing Service
Sayre, PA · about 9 miles
Certified for bacteria, nitrate
Pace Analytical Services LLC - Williamsport, PA
Williamsport, PA · about 41 miles
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
- Limits and goals: each contaminant’s page, with its EPA source.
- How this page is built: methodology.
PWSID PA2080032. Rebuilt from EPA data on Oct. 18, 2026.
What to do next
- Read up on the 4 results above a lineWhat each one does to health, where it comes from, and the certification claim that addresses it.Start with Copper
- Get the utility’s own reportUlster Municipal Authority must send you a water quality report every year. It covers contaminants this page does not show, and has newer results than EPA’s national file for the ones here that come from it.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