Blair County, Pennsylvania — public water systems

How does Blair County compare with other Pennsylvania counties?

Blair County has the 45th-most active public water systems among the 99 counties listed for active Pennsylvania systems in EPA records; among the 71 with 3 or more systems, the median has 76. Its systems report 101,604 people served in total, the 26th-largest county figure in the state and 0.8% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 2,032 people, about 17% above the Pennsylvania average of 1,741. Population figures are what each system reports; people served by more than one system, such as a wholesaler and the town that buys from it, are counted by each.

Where does Blair County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Blair County's active systems draw on groundwater (42, 84%), purchased surface water (5, 10%), surface water (2, 4%) and purchased groundwater (1, 2%). Overall, 86% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 14% on surface water, compared with 93% and 6.8% across Pennsylvania. Groundwater means the system draws its water from wells or springs fed by underground aquifers. The county's largest system, Altoona Water Authority, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Blair County?

Blair County's active systems break down as 24 community systems (48%), 1 non-transient non-community systems (2%) and 25 transient non-community systems (50%). A community water system serves at least 15 connections used by year-round residents, or regularly serves at least 25 year-round residents. Homes, apartments and mobile-home parks are served by these. A non-transient non-community water system regularly serves at least 25 of the same people for more than six months a year, but not where they live. Schools, factories, office buildings and hospitals with their own supply are typical examples. A transient non-community water system serves places where people do not stay long, such as gas stations and campgrounds, and regularly serves at least 25 people a day for at least 60 days a year. EPA lists their owner types as private (60%), local government (28%), public/private partnership (10%) and state government (2%).