City of Lancaster water quality
Lancaster City water comes from two plants: one on the Susquehanna and one on the Conestoga River. In 2025, Pennsylvania DEP issued three PFOA violations for the Conestoga plant, where results reached 22.3 ppt. The city says it is investigating the source and evaluating treatment upgrades. Here is what's in the 2025 report, in plain English, and what it means for your home.
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Lancaster City Water water, by the numbers
From the City of Lancaster, 2025 Water Quality Report, with EPA records where noted.
| 2025 result | |
|---|---|
| Source | The Susquehanna River (Susquehanna plant) and the Conestoga River (Conestoga plant) |
| People served | About 120,000 (EPA) |
| Areas served | Lancaster City and nearby townships, including Manheim Township, Lancaster Township, and parts of Millersville, Willow Street and East Petersburg |
| Disinfectant | Chlorine |
| Hardness | 6.3 gpg (Susquehanna plant) to 13.7 gpg (Conestoga plant) |
| PFAS | Conestoga plant: PFOA 7.84–22.3 ppt (state limit 14, running average) and three PA DEP violations; running average 13.4 ppt at the end of 2025. Susquehanna plant: PFOA up to 2.02 ppt |
| Nitrate | Up to 6.6 ppm (limit 10) |
| Lead | 7 ppb at the 90th percentile; 1 of 52 homes over the action level |
| Trihalomethanes | 75.2 ppb running average; single samples 11.9–148 ppb (limit 80, based on the running average) |
What these numbers mean for your home
Chlorine taste and smell. Lancaster City Water 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, 22.3 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 →
Hard water. At around 10 grains per gallon, expect scale on fixtures, spots on dishes and shorter water-heater life. A softener sized to your hardness and household stops it. Water softeners →
Nitrate worth knowing about. Nitrate reached 6.6 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 Lancaster City Water 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 Lancaster City Water 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.
Lancaster City Water water: common questions
Is City of Lancaster water safe to drink?
City of Lancaster'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 Lancaster City Water use chlorine or chloramine?
Chlorine. A standard whole-home carbon filter removes chlorine taste and smell.
Is Lancaster City Water water hard?
The report lists 6.3 gpg (Susquehanna plant) to 13.7 gpg (Conestoga plant).
What about PFAS in Lancaster City Water water?
Conestoga plant: PFOA 7.84–22.3 ppt (state limit 14, running average) and three PA DEP violations; running average 13.4 ppt at the end of 2025. Susquehanna plant: PFOA up to 2.02 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 Lancaster City Water 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 City of Lancaster.