Ephrata Area Joint Authority water quality
Ephrata's water comes from Cocalico Creek and three wells and is disinfected with chlorine. Nitrate reached 6.39 ppm in the 2024 report, typical for farm country, and EPA sampling found PFOA up to 5.8 ppt. Here is what's in the 2024 report, in plain English, and what it means for your home.
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Ephrata Area Joint Authority water, by the numbers
From the Ephrata Borough, 2024 Water Quality Report, with EPA records where noted.
| 2024 result | |
|---|---|
| Source | Cocalico Creek and three wells |
| People served | About 24,500 (EPA) |
| Areas served | Ephrata and the surrounding area |
| Disinfectant | Chlorine |
| Hardness | Not listed in the report. We test it free. |
| PFAS | Not listed in the 2024 report. EPA's UCMR 5 sampling (2025) found PFOA up to 5.8 ppt and PFOS up to 4.6 ppt |
| Nitrate | Up to 6.39 ppm (limit 10) |
| Lead | 2.18 ppb at the 90th percentile (action level 15) |
| Trihalomethanes | Up to 62.3 ppb (limit 80) |
What these numbers mean for your home
Chlorine taste and smell. Ephrata Area Joint 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, 5.8 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. Ephrata Area Joint 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 6.39 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 Ephrata Area Joint 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 Ephrata Area Joint 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.
Ephrata Area Joint Authority water: common questions
Is Ephrata Area Joint Authority water safe to drink?
Ephrata Area Joint Authority'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 Ephrata Area Joint Authority use chlorine or chloramine?
Chlorine. A standard whole-home carbon filter removes chlorine taste and smell.
Is Ephrata Area Joint Authority water hard?
The report doesn't list hardness. We test it free in your home.
What about PFAS in Ephrata Area Joint Authority water?
Not listed in the 2024 report. EPA's UCMR 5 sampling (2025) found PFOA up to 5.8 ppt and PFOS up to 4.6 ppt. 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 Ephrata Area Joint 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 Ephrata Area Joint Authority.