Columbia Water Company water quality
Columbia Water Company treats Susquehanna River water, plus wells in Marietta, and disinfects with chlorine. Hardness averages around 5 grains per gallon, softer than most of Lancaster County. Here is what's in the 2024 report, in plain English, and what it means for your home.
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Columbia Water Company water, by the numbers
From the Columbia Water Company, 2024 Consumer Confidence Report (PA7360123), with EPA records where noted.
| 2024 result | |
|---|---|
| Source | The Susquehanna River, plus wells in Marietta |
| People served | About 25,200 (EPA) |
| Areas served | Columbia, Mountville, West Hempfield, Manor Township and Marietta |
| Disinfectant | Chlorine |
| Hardness | About 5.3 grains per gallon on average (2.8–8.5 gpg) |
| PFAS | PFOS up to 2.35 ppt (state limit 18) |
| Nitrate | Up to 6.4 ppm (limit 10) |
| Lead | 2 ppb at the 90th percentile (action level 15) |
| Trihalomethanes | Up to 28.8 ppb (limit 80) |
What these numbers mean for your home
Chlorine taste and smell. Columbia Water Company disinfects with chlorine. A whole-home carbon filter removes the taste and smell at every tap, including the shower. Whole-home filtration →
Low PFAS. PFAS results here are at or under EPA's 4 ppt federal limit. If you want them lower still, reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink reduces PFAS in drinking water. Reverse osmosis →
Fairly soft water. Most homes here don't need a softener. Carbon filtration and RO are the usual upgrades. How hardness works →
Nitrate worth knowing about. Nitrate reached 6.4 ppm, under the 10 ppm limit but higher than most systems. It matters most for infants under six months. RO reduces it in drinking water.
Water treatment for Columbia Water Company customers
How it works
Request your instant free quote
Fill out the free quote form or call (610) 400-3132. Tell us your address and that you're on Columbia Water Company water.
We quote you on the spot
You get a clear price for your system right then, starting from a base package at a set price.
A free water test tunes your system
Before we install, we test your actual water for free and tune the system to it, so you only pay for the treatment your water needs.
We install your system
We install it cleanly, show you how it works, and let you know when filters and service are due.
Columbia Water Company water: common questions
Is Columbia Water Company water safe to drink?
Columbia Water Company's 2024 report shows its water met state and federal drinking water standards except where noted in the table above. Meeting the standards doesn't mean nothing is in the water, so many families add filtration for taste, PFAS or hardness.
Does Columbia Water Company use chlorine or chloramine?
Chlorine. A standard whole-home carbon filter removes chlorine taste and smell.
Is Columbia Water Company water hard?
The report lists About 5.3 grains per gallon on average (2.8–8.5 gpg).
What about PFAS in Columbia Water Company water?
PFOS up to 2.35 ppt (state limit 18). Pennsylvania's limits are 14 ppt for PFOA and 18 ppt for PFOS; EPA's federal limit is 4 ppt for each.
Do you install water treatment for Columbia Water Company customers?
Yes. Willow Springs Water Company serves Lancaster County homes from Sinking Spring. Request an instant free quote or call (610) 400-3132.
Written by Sam Beiler, co-founder of Willow Springs Water Company, Sinking Spring, PA. Last updated November 2026. Willow Springs is not affiliated with Columbia Water Company.