Chambersburg, PA's Home for Water Softeners, Water Filters & Water Delivery

Yes. Chambersburg’s drinking water meets federal (EPA) and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) health standards. The most recent report notes one monitoring violation: the Borough collected 7 of 8 required total organic carbon samples one quarter. This was a missed sample, not a health limit being exceeded.

No. Chambersburg’s borough water is very soft, at about 10 ppm (roughly ½ grain per gallon) in the most recent water quality report. Most homes on borough water don’t need a softener. Homes on private wells are different: wells drilled into the Cumberland Valley’s limestone commonly produce hard water that leaves scale on fixtures and inside water heaters.

Lead in tap water usually comes from household plumbing rather than the water source. In the most recent report, 90% of homes tested were below the 15 ppb action level, with a 90th percentile result of 2.11 ppb. The same report also lists a highest single result of 82 ppb at one home, which shows how much plumbing can vary from house to house. Because compliance is based on the 90th percentile, that one result didn’t trigger an action level exceedance. If your home has older pipes or fixtures, a reverse osmosis drinking water filter certified for lead reduction adds protection at the tap.

Chambersburg’s most recent water quality report shows that PFOA and PFOS, the two PFAS compounds the EPA limits to 4 parts per trillion each, were not detected in the Borough’s water.

Yes. The Borough adds fluoride to help protect dental health. The most recent water quality report shows fluoride at 0.87 ppm, below Pennsylvania’s maximum contaminant level of 2.0 ppm.

Yes. Chambersburg disinfects its water with chlorine. The most recent report shows distribution levels from 0.24 to 1.57 ppm, below the EPA maximum residual disinfectant level of 4.0 ppm. Chlorine also reacts with natural organic matter from the forested watershed to form disinfection byproducts; total trihalomethanes reached 57.1 ppb at their highest location, under the 80 ppb federal limit.

Chambersburg’s water comes from the East Branch of the Conococheague Creek, collected from an 18.25-square-mile watershed northeast of Caledonia State Park. About 95% of the watershed lies within Michaux State Forest, which helps protect the source.

The Borough treats its surface water with coagulation and settling, followed by multimedia rapid sand filtration and chlorine disinfection. Sodium hydroxide, sodium bicarbonate, and orthophosphate are added for corrosion control to reduce lead and copper leaching from household plumbing, and fluoride is added for dental health.

Private wells aren’t covered by the Borough’s testing, so the water quality is up to the homeowner. Wells in Franklin County’s limestone valley commonly have hard water and can pick up nitrate from farmland, and bacteria can move quickly through limestone after heavy rain. Pennsylvania doesn’t require well testing, so it’s worth testing yours regularly. You can learn more about well water treatment or schedule a free in-home test.

On borough water, most homes don’t need a softener because the water is already very soft. Many homeowners add a reverse osmosis drinking water filter to reduce chlorine taste, disinfection byproducts, and any lead picked up from household plumbing. Homes on private wells often benefit from a water softener, and some also need iron or nitrate treatment. A free water test shows what your home actually needs.

The Borough of Chambersburg monitors throughout the year for bacteria, disinfectant levels, disinfection byproducts, turbidity, total organic carbon, inorganic chemicals, lead and copper, and PFAS. Results are reviewed by PA DEP and published in the annual Drinking Water Quality Report.

You can access the most recent Chambersburg Water Quality Report here.