Berks County, Pennsylvania: drinking water report. Berks County in southeastern Pennsylvania has a population of about 425,000, centered on Reading.
Berks County in southeastern Pennsylvania has a population of about 425,000, centered on Reading. The Reading Area Water Authority draws from the Maiden Creek Reservoir and several supplemental wells, while surrounding communities rely on a mix of municipal systems and private wells. The county sits in a transition zone between the agricultural piedmont and the Appalachian ridges, and that geography puts both agricultural and industrial contaminants in the water supply.
Reading has a documented lead service line problem. According to the Pennsylvania DEP's 2024 Lead and Copper Rule monitoring data, the Reading system recorded 90th percentile lead levels of 12 ppb during the most recent sampling period – below the EPA's action level of 15 ppb but above the zero-lead goal. The city's aging housing stock, with many homes built before 1940, means lead solder and service lines remain widespread.
The EPA's UCMR5 program detected PFAS at sampling points in Berks County systems. The former Reading Regional Airport (now Reading Regional Airport/Carl A. Spaatz Field) has used AFFF firefighting foam, and PFAS detections have been documented in nearby monitoring wells. A 2023 DEP survey found three public water systems in the county with PFAS detections above Pennsylvania's proposed action levels.
Older homes in Reading and surrounding boroughs should treat lead as a default concern. Running water for 30-60 seconds before drinking after periods of non-use flushes standing water that may have absorbed lead from pipes.
Check your water to see monitoring data specific to your area. For lead, a pitcher filter certified to NSF 53 is the simplest solution. For PFAS, reverse osmosis is more effective. Our water filter guide covers both scenarios. Pull your detailed report for trend data, and visit our Pennsylvania page for statewide context.