Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania: drinking water report. Westmoreland County east of Pittsburgh has about 350,000 residents spread across communities from…
Westmoreland County east of Pittsburgh has about 350,000 residents spread across communities from Greensburg to the Laurel Highlands. The Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC) is one of the largest water authorities in Pennsylvania, serving over 130,000 customers from the Youghiogheny River and Indian Creek Reservoir. The county's industrial past includes glass manufacturing, coke production, and metalworking alongside the ubiquitous coal mining.
The Youghiogheny River receives mine drainage from abandoned operations throughout its watershed. According to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy's 2024 water quality survey, iron and aluminum concentrations at the MAWC intake averaged 0.4 mg/L and 0.2 mg/L respectively during spring high-flow events – manageable for treatment but indicative of ongoing mine drainage input.
The former Latrobe Airport and Arnold Palmer Regional Airport have documented AFFF use. Pennsylvania DEP's 2024 PFAS investigation found PFOS at 11 ppt in groundwater near the airport. MAWC's finished water showed low-level PFAS detections during UCMR5 monitoring, below the new MCLs but above detection limits.
Westmoreland County benefits from a large, well-run water authority that treats effectively for most regulated contaminants. The primary concerns at the household level are the trace PFAS common in surface water systems and disinfection byproducts that form when treating mine-impacted source water.
Check your water for current monitoring data at your address. A carbon block filter reduces disinfection byproducts and improves taste, while reverse osmosis adds PFAS and broader contaminant protection. Our water filter guide covers both approaches. Pull your detailed report for historical data, and visit our Pennsylvania page for statewide context.