Downingtown Municipal Water Authority water quality
Downingtown's water comes from Marsh Creek Lake, the Brandywine and one well, and is disinfected with chlorine. Results in the authority's latest report are well under federal and state limits, and EPA sampling found PFOA at 4.2 ppt. Here is what's in the 2023 report, in plain English, and what it means for your home.
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Downingtown Municipal Water Authority water, by the numbers
From the Downingtown Municipal Water Authority, Annual Drinking Water Quality Report (2023 data), with EPA records where noted.
| 2023 result | |
|---|---|
| Source | Marsh Creek Lake, the East Branch of the Brandywine and one well |
| People served | About 9,900 (EPA) |
| Areas served | Downingtown and the surrounding area |
| Disinfectant | Chlorine |
| Hardness | Not listed in the report. We test it free. |
| PFAS | Not listed in the authority's report. EPA's UCMR 5 sampling (2024) found PFOA up to 4.2 ppt; PFOS was not detected |
| Nitrate | Up to 2.23 ppm (limit 10) |
| Lead | 2 ppb at the 90th percentile; 0 of 20 homes over the action level (2022 sampling) |
| Trihalomethanes | Up to 31.8 ppb (limit 80) |
What these numbers mean for your home
Chlorine taste and smell. Downingtown Municipal Water Authority disinfects with chlorine. A whole-home carbon filter removes the taste and smell at every tap, including the shower. Whole-home filtration →
PFAS above the federal level. The highest PFAS result here, 4.2 ppt, is above EPA's federal limit of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS. Water systems don't have to meet that limit yet (EPA has proposed 2031). A reverse osmosis system at the kitchen sink reduces PFAS in drinking water. Reverse osmosis →
Hardness isn't listed. Downingtown Municipal Water Authority's report doesn't publish a hardness number, so we don't guess. Our free in-home test measures it in a few minutes. Free water testing →
Water treatment for Downingtown Municipal Water Authority 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 Downingtown Municipal Water Authority 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.
Downingtown Municipal Water Authority water: common questions
Is Downingtown Municipal Water Authority water safe to drink?
Downingtown Municipal Water Authority's 2023 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 Downingtown Municipal Water Authority use chlorine or chloramine?
Chlorine. A standard whole-home carbon filter removes chlorine taste and smell.
Is Downingtown Municipal Water Authority water hard?
The report doesn't list hardness. We test it free in your home.
What about PFAS in Downingtown Municipal Water Authority water?
Not listed in the authority's report. EPA's UCMR 5 sampling (2024) found PFOA up to 4.2 ppt; PFOS was not detected. 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 Downingtown Municipal Water Authority customers?
Yes. Willow Springs Water Company serves Chester 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 Downingtown Municipal Water Authority.
- Downingtown Municipal Water Authority, Annual Drinking Water Quality Report (2023 data)
- U.S. EPA ECHO, community water systems in Chester County
- U.S. EPA, Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5) data
- PA DEP, PFOA and PFOS maximum contaminant levels
- U.S. EPA, PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation