Lancaster County, Pennsylvania — public water systems

How does Lancaster County compare with other Pennsylvania counties?

Lancaster County has the 3rd-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 405,283 people served in total, the 5th-largest county figure in the state and 3.2% of the statewide total. The average system here reports serving 1,008 people, about 42% 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 Lancaster County's drinking water come from?

By primary water source, Lancaster County's active systems draw on groundwater (378, 94%), purchased surface water (9, 2.2%), surface water (6, 1.5%) and groundwater under influence of surface water (6, 1.5%). Overall, 96% rely mainly on groundwater (including purchased groundwater) and 3.7% 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, City of Lancaster, draws primarily on surface water.

What kinds of water systems operate in Lancaster County?

Lancaster County's active systems break down as 93 community systems (23%), 105 non-transient non-community systems (26%) and 204 transient non-community systems (51%). 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 (73%), public/private partnership (18%), local government (8.5%) and state government (0.5%).