Public water system · PA3060059
ActiveReading Area Water Authority
At a glance
Reading Area Water Authority (PWSID PA3060059) is an active community water system in Berks County, Pennsylvania. It reports serving 95,100 people through 28,500 service connections. Its primary water source is surface water, and EPA lists it as owned by a local government. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2025.
Dataset updated . Source: EPA SDWIS/ECHO public records.
Population served
95,100
Service connections
28,500
Primary source
SW
Surface water
System type
CWS
Community water system
System record
How does Reading Area Water Authority compare with other water systems in Berks County?
By EPA's size categories, Reading Area Water Authority is a large system (10,001 to 100,000 people). Berks County has 471 active public water systems, and Reading Area Water Authority is the largest of them by population served. Its population served is about 119 times the county average of 799 people per system, and accounts for 25% of the 376,539 people reported by systems filed under the county. Across Pennsylvania, the 7,217 active systems average 1,741 people each. Nationally, the average active community water system reports serving 6,703 people, so Reading Area Water Authority is about 14 times that figure.
What does “community water system” mean?
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. Pennsylvania has 1,762 active community water systems, 24% of the state's 7,217 active systems. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs. 246 Pennsylvania systems (3.4%) list surface water as their primary source.
Who owns and regulates Reading Area Water Authority?
EPA lists Reading Area Water Authority as owned by a local government. The PA state drinking water program is its primacy agency, the regulator with primary enforcement responsibility for the system under the Safe Drinking Water Act. 43 of the 471 active systems in Berks County (9.1%) are also owned by a local government.
Does Reading Area Water Authority have drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2025. The violations listed here began between July 2006 and April 2025. By type: 6 monitoring and reporting, 3 contaminant level above the legal limit, 2 required treatment not met and 1 public notice, recordkeeping or other. The contaminant or rule involved most often is Revised Total Coliform Rule (3 of them). EPA lists 12 as resolved. Resolved means at least one resolving action is on record: the system returned to compliance, the rule no longer applies, or no further action was needed.
| Began | Violation | Contaminant or rule | Health-based | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-04-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Long Term 2 Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0800 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2022-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Haloacetic acids (HAA5)code 2456 | No | Resolved |
| 2022-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring and Reporting (DBP) · code 27 | Total trihalomethanes (TTHM)code 2950 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-10-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) · code 1A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2018-09-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) · code 1A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring of Treatment (SWTR-Filter) · code 36 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | No | Resolved |
| 2018-01-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Regular · code 03 | Thalliumcode 1085 | No | Resolved |
| 2016-08-01 | Contaminant level above the legal limitMaximum Contaminant Level Violation, E. coli (RTCR) · code 1A | Revised Total Coliform Rulecode 8000 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2013-09-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) · code 38 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | No | Resolved |
| 2013-07-01 | Monitoring and reportingMonitoring, Turbidity (Enhanced SWTR) · code 38 | Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0300 | No | Resolved |
| 2006-07-01 | Required treatment not metTreatment Technique (SWTR and GWR) · code 41 | Surface Water Treatment Rulecode 0200 | Yes | Resolved |
| 2006-07-01 | Public notice, recordkeeping or otherConsumer Confidence Report Complete Failure to Report · code 71 | Consumer Confidence Rulecode 7000 | No | Resolved |
The 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, newest first.Labels and codes come from EPA's SDWIS reference tables. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found. "Health-based" marks violations of a legal limit or required treatment.
Reading Area Water Authority: frequently asked questions
Who runs Reading Area Water Authority?
Reading Area Water Authority (PWSID PA3060059) is a community water system owned by a local government. It is regulated by the PA state drinking water program.
How many people does Reading Area Water Authority serve?
Reading Area Water Authority reports serving 95,100 people through 28,500 service connections in Berks County, Pennsylvania.
Where does Reading Area Water Authority get its water?
EPA SDWIS lists this system's primary water source as surface water. Surface water means the system draws its water from rivers, lakes, streams or reservoirs.
Does Reading Area Water Authority have any drinking water violations?
Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2025. A monitoring or reporting violation means a required test or report was missed or late; it does not by itself mean a contaminant was found.
Is Reading Area Water Authority's water safe to drink?
AquaCensus shows EPA compliance records, not current water test results, so it cannot say whether the water is safe at a given moment. Of the 12 most recent violations in EPA's records, 5 are health-based, and the most recent began in April 2025. For current results, consult the system's annual water quality report, EPA ECHO, or the PA state drinking water program.
Where can I find Reading Area Water Authority's water quality report?
As a community water system, Reading Area Water Authority must deliver an annual water quality report, called a Consumer Confidence Report, to its customers by July 1 each year, covering the previous calendar year. The system can provide a copy on request.
Other water systems in Berks County
| Water system | County | Population served | Type | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paw Penn District | Berks | 28,508 | Community | Groundwater |
| Paw Glen Alsace Div | Berks | 24,951 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Muhlenberg Twp Muni Auth | Berks | 22,400 | Community | Groundwater |
| Kutztown Borough Water | Berks | 14,200 | Community | Groundwater under influence of surface water |
| Shillington Muni Auth | Berks | 13,300 | Community | Purchased surface water |
| Mt Penn Boro Muni Auth | Berks | 10,400 | Community | Groundwater |
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About this data
Source: U.S. EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) and SDWA violation records, via EPA ECHO, as published October 1, 2026 — AquaCensus refreshes it quarterly. See the methodology for how records are matched, cleaned and scored.
Cite as: AquaCensus, “Reading Area Water Authority, PWSID PA3060059, Pennsylvania”, https://aquacensus.com/water-systems/pennsylvania/reading-area-water-authority-pa3060059 (data as of October 1, 2026).