Luzerne County, Pennsylvania: drinking water report. Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania has a population of about 325,000, centered on
Luzerne County in northeastern Pennsylvania has a population of about 325,000, centered on Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton. The county's water comes from a combination of surface reservoirs and groundwater wells, with Pennsylvania American Water and several municipal authorities serving different portions of the county. The region's coal mining history has left a lasting imprint – acid mine drainage from abandoned mines has contaminated streams and groundwater across the county for over a century.
Acid mine drainage introduces elevated levels of iron, manganese, aluminum, and sulfate into water sources throughout Luzerne County. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, over 180 miles of streams in the county are impaired by mine drainage. While treatment plants remove most of these metals, the process is expensive and infrastructure-intensive, and smaller systems sometimes operate at the edge of their treatment capacity.
The EPA's UCMR5 data also shows PFAS detections across several water systems in the county. The former Tobyhanna Army Depot, located in adjacent Monroe County, has PFAS contamination that may affect shared groundwater resources. A 2023 DEP assessment found that four public water systems in Luzerne County reported PFAS levels requiring follow-up monitoring under Pennsylvania's proposed standards.
Mining legacy contamination and aging infrastructure mean water quality in Luzerne County requires active attention. If your water comes from a smaller system or a private well, the risk of elevated metals is higher than in larger municipal systems with dedicated treatment.
Check your water to see current data for your area. For iron and manganese, whole-house sediment and oxidation filters improve both taste and safety. For PFAS, reverse osmosis at the kitchen tap is the most targeted solution. Our water filter guide breaks down options by contaminant type. Get your detailed report for historical data, and visit our Pennsylvania page for statewide patterns.