Ponce Urbano water quality report, rewritten
- Serves
- 113,972
- Connections
- 42,686
- Water source
- Surface water
- Based in
- Penuelas, PR
- Counties
- Penuelas Municipio, Ponce Municipio
- Owner
- Local government
The ZIP code it serves
PWSID PR00038242026 edition · EPA data
Read this first
- PFOS (above the health goal) was found in 36 of 52 samples, highest 25.6 ppt. Above the 4.0 ppt legal limit in at least one sample. Compliance is judged on a running annual average, not one sample.
- PFHxS (above the health goal) was found in three of 52 samples, highest 16.7 ppt. Above the 10 ppt legal limit in at least one sample. Compliance is judged on a running annual average, not one sample.
- PFOA (above the health goal) was found in three of 52 samples, highest 5.1 ppt. Above the 4.0 ppt legal limit in at least one sample. Compliance is judged on a running annual average, not one sample.
- Lithium (above EPA’s health benchmark) was found in four of 52 samples, highest 25.3 ppb. Above EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb, a screening level rather than an enforceable limit.
- Lead (above the health goal) In the latest period, 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below 6.0 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level. The action level drops to 10 ppb on Nov. 1, 2027. EPA’s health goal for lead is zero.
40 health-based violations since 2016. Details are below.
What handles itWhat was found
Highlighted: above the health goal, or EPA’s health benchmark where there is no goal. Circled: above the legal limit in at least one sample, or the action level. Every scale puts that line at its middle.
PFOS (above the health goal)
Comes from the source
25.6 (above the legal limit in at least one sample)ppt
Highest of 52 samples; found in 36
Above the 4.0 ppt legal limit in at least one sample. Compliance is judged on a running annual average, not one sample.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53Look for: PFOS ReductionSame claim, other certifiers’ wording: Total PFAS Reduction; Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)
- NSF/ANSI 58Look for: Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS)
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.
EPA UCMR 5, samples taken from June 30, 2023 to Dec. 22, 2023. Each blue tick is one sample where it was found.
PFHxS (above the health goal)
Comes from the source
16.7 (above the legal limit in at least one sample)ppt
Highest of 52 samples; found in three
Above the 10 ppt legal limit in at least one sample. Compliance is judged on a running annual average, not one sample.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53Look for: Total PFAS ReductionSame claim, other certifiers’ wording: Perfluorohexane Sulfonic Acid (PFHxS)
NSF’s PFAS claims are tested to below 20 ppt. EPA’s limit is 10 ppt, and EPA says no certification yet shows a filter reaching its levels.
EPA UCMR 5, samples taken from June 27, 2023 to Dec. 10, 2023. Each blue tick is one sample where it was found.
PFOA (above the health goal)
Comes from the source
5.1 (above the legal limit in at least one sample)ppt
Highest of 52 samples; found in three
Above the 4.0 ppt legal limit in at least one sample. Compliance is judged on a running annual average, not one sample.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53Look for: PFOA ReductionSame claim, other certifiers’ wording: Total PFAS Reduction; Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
- NSF/ANSI 58Look for: Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA)
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.
EPA UCMR 5, samples taken from June 27, 2023 to Dec. 7, 2023. Each blue tick is one sample where it was found.
Lithium (above EPA’s health benchmark)
Comes from the source
25.3ppb
Highest of 52 samples; found in four
Above EPA’s health reference level of 10 ppb, a screening level rather than an enforceable limit.
What handles it
No certification claim covers this compound yet.
EPA UCMR 5, samples taken from June 24, 2023 to Dec. 22, 2023. Each blue tick is one sample where it was found.
Lead (above the health goal)
Comes from pipes, often your own
6.0ppb
90th percentile, 2014
In the latest period, 9 in 10 homes sampled were at or below 6.0 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level. The action level drops to 10 ppb on Nov. 1, 2027. EPA’s health goal for lead is zero.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53Look for: Lead Reduction
- NSF/ANSI 58Look for: Lead Reduction
EPA SDWIS, lead and copper monitoring periods ending 2007 to 2014. The pointer marks the latest period; each blue tick is an earlier one.
PFBS
Comes from the source
9.2ppt
Highest of 52 samples; found in 29
Below EPA’s hazard index benchmark of 2,000 ppt. PFBS has no legal limit or health goal of its own.
What handles it
- NSF/ANSI 53Look for: Total PFAS Reduction
EPA UCMR 5, samples taken from June 24, 2023 to Feb. 21, 2024. Each blue tick is one sample where it was found.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFPeA | 7.4 ppt | 4 of 52 | None covers it |
| PFHxA | 7.2 ppt | 1 of 52 | None covers it |
| PFBA | 7.1 ppt | 5 of 52 | None covers it |
| PFDoA | 3.2 ppt | 1 of 52 | None covers it |
Tested and not found
Below EPA’s minimum reporting level in every sample taken from June 15, 2023 to March 14, 2024. Not found means not measured above that level, which is not the same as zero.
All 21 compounds tested and not found
- 11Cl-PF3OUdS
- 4:2 FTS
- 6:2 FTS
- 8:2 FTS
- 9Cl-PF3ONS
- ADONA
- HFPO-DA (GenX)
- NEtFOSAA
- NFDHA
- NMeFOSAA
- PFDA
- PFEESA
- PFHpA
- PFHpS
- PFMBA
- PFMPA
- PFNA
- PFPeS
- PFTA
- PFTrDA
- PFUnA
Violations since 2016
| Contaminant or rule | Type | Period | Measured | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Jan. 1, 2024 to Jan. 31, 2024 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Too many readings in a month showed cloudiness above the filtration standard.EPA: Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Aug. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Aug. 1, 2023 to Aug. 31, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | July 1, 2023 to July 31, 2023 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Oct. 1, 2022 to Oct. 31, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Oct. 1, 2022 to Oct. 31, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Too many readings in a month showed cloudiness above the filtration standard.EPA: Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Sept. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Sept. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Too many readings in a month showed cloudiness above the filtration standard.EPA: Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Sept. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Sept. 1, 2022 to Sept. 30, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Aug. 1, 2022 to Aug. 31, 2022 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Too many readings in a month showed cloudiness above the filtration standard.EPA: Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Oct. 1, 2021 to Oct. 31, 2021 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Oct. 1, 2021 to Oct. 31, 2021 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Oct. 1, 2021 to Oct. 31, 2021 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Too many readings in a month showed cloudiness above the filtration standard.EPA: Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Oct. 1, 2021 to Oct. 31, 2021 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Sept. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Too many readings in a month showed cloudiness above the filtration standard.EPA: Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Sept. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021 | — | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | One cloudiness reading was above the maximum allowed.EPA: Single Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | March 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019 | — | Resolved |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | Jan. 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019 | 0.068 MG/L | Resolved |
| Total organic carbon | Not enough organic matter was removed. It reacts with disinfectant to form byproducts.EPA: Treatment Technique Precursor Removal | Jan. 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019 | — | Resolved |
| TTHM | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | Jan. 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019 | 0.095 MG/L | Resolved |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | Oct. 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2018 | 0.081 MG/L | Resolved |
| TTHM | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | Oct. 1, 2018 to Dec. 31, 2018 | 0.097 MG/L | Resolved |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Too many readings in a month showed cloudiness above the filtration standard.EPA: Monthly Turbidity Exceed (Enhanced SWTR) | Oct. 1, 2018 to Oct. 31, 2018 | — | Resolved |
| Total organic carbon | Not enough organic matter was removed. It reacts with disinfectant to form byproducts.EPA: Treatment Technique Precursor Removal | April 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 | — | Resolved |
| Total organic carbon | Not enough organic matter was removed. It reacts with disinfectant to form byproducts.EPA: Treatment Technique Precursor Removal | April 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 | — | Resolved |
| TTHM | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | April 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 | 0.11 MG/L | Resolved |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | April 1, 2018 to June 30, 2018 | 0.13 MG/L | Resolved |
| Total organic carbon | Not enough organic matter was removed. It reacts with disinfectant to form byproducts.EPA: Treatment Technique Precursor Removal | Jan. 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018 | — | Resolved |
| TTHM | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | Jan. 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018 | 0.12 MG/L | Resolved |
| Total organic carbon | Not enough organic matter was removed. It reacts with disinfectant to form byproducts.EPA: Treatment Technique Precursor Removal | Jan. 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018 | — | Resolved |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | Jan. 1, 2018 to March 31, 2018 | 0.11 MG/L | Resolved |
| Total organic carbon | Not enough organic matter was removed. It reacts with disinfectant to form byproducts.EPA: Treatment Technique Precursor Removal | July 1, 2017 to Sept. 30, 2017 | — | Resolved |
| Total organic carbon | Not enough organic matter was removed. It reacts with disinfectant to form byproducts.EPA: Treatment Technique Precursor Removal | July 1, 2017 to Sept. 30, 2017 | — | Resolved |
| Total organic carbon | Not enough organic matter was removed. It reacts with disinfectant to form byproducts.EPA: Treatment Technique Precursor Removal | April 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017 | — | Resolved |
| Total organic carbon | Not enough organic matter was removed. It reacts with disinfectant to form byproducts.EPA: Treatment Technique Precursor Removal | April 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017 | — | Resolved |
| TTHM | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | Jan. 1, 2017 to March 31, 2017 | 0.096 MG/L | Resolved |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | Oct. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2016 | 0.065 MG/L | Resolved |
| TTHM | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | Oct. 1, 2016 to Dec. 31, 2016 | 0.096 MG/L | Resolved |
| TTHM | The running average was above the legal limit.EPA: Maximum Contaminant Level Violation, Average | July 1, 2016 to Sept. 30, 2016 | 0.082 MG/L | Resolved |
| Health-based violations only. Resolved and archived mean the utility returned to compliance or the state closed the record. 173 monitoring or reporting violations not shown. | ||||
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: PFOS Reduction, Total PFAS Reduction, PFOA Reduction, Lead Reduction
For: PFOS, PFHxS, PFOA, Lead
- NSF/ANSI 58
Claims: Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA), Lead Reduction
For: PFOS, PFOA, 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
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: PFOS, PFHxS, PFOA, Lead
PUR PLUS Faucet Filtration System, Horizontal (PFM400H)
Faucet mount
- 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: PFOS, PFHxS, PFOA, Lead
ZeroWater 10 Cup Pitcher (ZP-010)
Pitcher
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: PFOS, PFOA, Lead
Aquasana Claryum Direct Connect (AQ-MF-1)
Under-sink carbon
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 401checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: PFOS, PFOA, Lead
Under-sink reverse osmosis
- IAPMO listing:NSF/ANSI 42NSF/ANSI 53NSF/ANSI 58checked Oct. 4, 2026
Certified for: PFOS, PFOA, Lead
What this report cannot tell you
- Levels of everything else. Federal bulk data carries results for PFAS, lithium, lead and copper, and violations for the rest. Nitrate, arsenic, disinfection byproducts and other levels are in Ponce Urbano’s own annual report, which it must send you every year.
- 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.
- Anything after the latest data. SDWIS data is from 2026 Q2; UCMR 5 samples are from June 15, 2023 to March 14, 2024.
What to do next
Read up on the 5 marked results
What each one does to health, where it comes from, and the certification claim that addresses it.
Start with PFOSGet the utility’s own report
Ponce Urbano must send you a water quality report every year. It lists nitrate, arsenic and byproduct levels this page cannot.
How to read itTest your own tap for lead
Your service line, solder and fixtures decide the lead at your faucet, not the utility’s average.
Lead in your water: what to doCompare certified filters
What the filters certified for these results cost over five years, cartridges included.
Compare five-year costs
Other Puerto Rico utilities
- Metropolitano1.1 million
- Mayaguez152,342
- Aguadilla124,782
- Rio Blanco,vieques,culedra79,822
- El Yunque68,114
- Arecibo Urbano61,626
- Fajardo Ceiba59,044
- Isabela49,937
- Caguas Norte47,352
- Lajas47,350
- Santa Isabel Urbano39,925
- Farallon39,388
Sources
- EPA UCMR 5 occurrence data, file of Aug. 27, 2026
- EPA SDWA bulk download (SDWIS federal data), 2026 Q2
- Limits and goals: each contaminant’s page, with its EPA source.
- How this page is built: methodology.