PFAS Contamination in Pennsylvania — What You Need to Know

Yes — Pennsylvania is among the most proactive states in the country. PA DEP set enforceable MCLs for PFOA (14 ppt) and PFOS (13 ppt) effective January 2023, years before the federal EPA finalized its standard. Pennsylvania also has a dedicated PFAS Action Team, provides a certified lab list for private well testing, and has been an active participant in DoD contamination cleanup negotiations. With the EPA's 4 ppt standard now in effect, Pennsylvania public water systems must meet the stricter federal limit.

Montgomery County in the Philadelphia suburbs is the most heavily affected county, due to contamination from Horsham Air Guard Station and Naval Air Station Willow Grove. An estimated 70,000 residents were affected at peak contamination. Bucks and Chester counties near the same military corridor have also had detections. Franklin County (Letterkenny Army Depot) and Lebanon County (Fort Indiantown Gap) are affected in the central part of the state. Philadelphia proper monitors the Schuylkill River, which carries PFAS from upstream industrial and municipal sources.

PA DEP has taken several concrete steps. It set enforceable MCLs before the federal government acted. It created a PFAS Action Team to coordinate testing, remediation, and public communication. It provides a certified laboratory list so private well owners can get their water tested. It has engaged with DoD in cleanup negotiations at military sites and has designated PFAS as hazardous under state environmental law, enabling enforcement against polluters beyond military sources.

Philadelphia Water conducts regular PFAS monitoring of the Schuylkill River, its primary source water, and publishes results in its annual Consumer Confidence Report. PFAS has been detected in the river at varying levels, primarily from upstream industrial and municipal sources. Philadelphia's treatment system reduces PFAS, and the utility's reported levels have generally been below the federal MCL. However, any detectable level is a concern to some people. A point-of-use filter at the kitchen tap adds a useful extra layer if you want to minimize exposure further.

For residents in high-contamination areas like Montgomery County, a reverse osmosis under-sink system is the most thorough option — RO removes 99%+ of PFAS regardless of compound type. Renters or those who want a simple solution should choose an NSF P473 certified pitcher like the Clearly Filtered pitcher, which removes 99.7% PFOA and 99.9% PFOS and requires no installation. For homeowners who want whole-house coverage, a combination of a whole-house carbon filter and an RO system at the kitchen tap provides the most complete protection.