Elizabethtown Area Water Authority water quality
Elizabethtown's water comes from Conewago Creek and eight wells and is disinfected with chlorine. Its 2025 report shows nitrate up to 7.69 ppm and manganese up to 118 ppb, enough to cause dark staining. Here is what's in the 2025 report, in plain English, and what it means for your home.
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Elizabethtown Area Water Authority water, by the numbers
From the Elizabethtown Area Water Authority, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report, with EPA records where noted.
| 2025 result | |
|---|---|
| Source | Conewago Creek and eight wells |
| People served | About 19,000 (EPA) |
| Areas served | Elizabethtown and the surrounding area, including Rheems (ZIP 17570) |
| Disinfectant | Chlorine |
| Hardness | Not listed in the report. We test it free. |
| PFAS | PFOA up to 4.56 ppt; PFOS up to 4.81 ppt (state limits 14 and 18) |
| Nitrate | Up to 7.69 ppm (limit 10) |
| Lead | 3 ppb at the 90th percentile (action level 15) |
| Trihalomethanes | Up to 51.6 ppb (limit 80) |
| Manganese | Up to 118 ppb, above EPA's 50 ppb secondary guideline for staining and taste |
What these numbers mean for your home
Chlorine taste and smell. Elizabethtown Area 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, 4.81 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. Elizabethtown Area 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 →
Nitrate worth knowing about. Nitrate reached 7.69 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 Elizabethtown Area 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 Elizabethtown Area 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.
Elizabethtown Area Water Authority water: common questions
Is Elizabethtown Area Water Authority water safe to drink?
Elizabethtown Area Water Authority's 2025 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 Elizabethtown Area Water Authority use chlorine or chloramine?
Chlorine. A standard whole-home carbon filter removes chlorine taste and smell.
Is Elizabethtown Area Water Authority water hard?
The report doesn't list hardness. We test it free in your home.
What about PFAS in Elizabethtown Area Water Authority water?
PFOA up to 4.56 ppt; PFOS up to 4.81 ppt (state limits 14 and 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 Elizabethtown Area Water Authority 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 Elizabethtown Area Water Authority.