Elk County, Pennsylvania — public water systems

How does Elk County compare with other Pennsylvania counties?

Elk County has the 61st-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 33,918 people served in total, the 48th-largest county figure in the state and 0.3% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 1,305 people, about 25% below 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 Elk County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Elk County's active systems draw on groundwater (20, 77%), surface water (4, 15%) and purchased surface water (2, 7.7%). Overall, 77% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 23% 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, St Marys Area Water Auth, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Elk County?

Elk County's active systems break down as 8 community systems (31%) and 18 transient non-community systems (69%). 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 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 (46%), local government (31%), federal government (12%) and state government (7.7%).