PFAS in tap water, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

4 of 9 water systems had PFAS-4 above our 0.5 ng/L benchmark at the latest sample. Highest: N Middleton Water Auth, 16.1 ng/L. 5 had PFOA or PFOS above the 4 ng/L federal MCL in at least one sample.

9 community water systems · 223,187 people served · newest sample December 15, 2025

Water systems in Cumberland County

Water system People served PFAS-4 at the latest sample Entry points Latest sample
PA American Water CO West 105,127 6.2 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL 2 October 10, 2024
Veolia Mechanicsburg 45,013 13 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL 4 November 20, 2023
Carlisle Water Trmt Plt 26,000 12.7 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL 1 November 15, 2023
Shippensburg Boro Water Auth 17,800 below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit 4 June 18, 2025
South Middleton TWP Water Auth 11,695 below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit 3 June 19, 2025
N Middleton Water Auth 8,455 16.1 ng/L above the 2029 federal MCL 2 December 15, 2025
Middlesex TWP Muni Auth 3,527 below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit 2 November 18, 2024
State Correctional Inst 3,500 below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit above the 2029 federal MCL in an earlier sample 2 October 15, 2024
Newville Boro Water Auth 2,070 below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit 1 November 20, 2024

Not sure which one is yours? The systems report their own service areas to EPA. Check your water bill or your utility's Consumer Confidence Report.

ZIP codes in Cumberland County

Census ZIP code tabulation areas that overlap the county. A ZIP served by one system opens that system's page; a ZIP shared by several systems lists them.

How to read these numbers

We compare PFAS-4 (PFOA + PFOS + PFNA + PFHxS) with this site's 0.5 ng/L benchmark, the same line as on the European pages. UCMR 5 reporting limits are 3 to 4 ng/L. So any quantified PFAS-4 compound is above the benchmark, and a clean result reads "below the 3 to 4 ng/L reporting limit", never zero. The US legal limit is the 4 ng/L federal MCL for PFOA and PFOS, which systems must meet from April 26, 2029 ("above the 2029 federal MCL").

EPA: "UCMR 5 results do not indicate compliance or noncompliance with the PFAS drinking water standards". Samples are taken where water enters the distribution system, not at your tap. A system may have changed sources or added treatment since. Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Water, PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR). Regulation details retrieved September 19, 2026. Every system page tracks the 2029 compliance date and the proposed rescission of the PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA and Hazard Index limits.

This site is a data project, not an official source. If in doubt, check with your water supplier or local authority.