Is tap water safe in York?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in York, PA?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 115 ppm (6.7 grains per gallon), classified as moderately hard. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 17404?

There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm conditions with an at-home hardness test before purchasing equipment.

City water profile

York water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for York, Pennsylvania.

Median indexed hardness

112PPM

2 indexed ZIPs

Range 109–115 PPM

State comparison: 28 PPM above
State hardness rank: #19 of 50
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

York has 2 published ZIP profiles across York County. The indexed median is 112 PPM, compared with 84 PPM across Pennsylvania.

Among the 50 Pennsylvaniacities with an indexed median, York ranks #19from highest to lowest. Across all 139 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 43to 166.5 PPM.

The 109–115 PPM range shows how much the available ZIP estimates vary within the city label.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft0 ZIPs

Moderately hard2 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

2 of 2 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 7.7 miles
Profiles with evidence: 2/2

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 2Low: 0

Observation window: Jan 4, 2016 to Jun 17, 2026.

ZIP directory

Water reports in York

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

17401

Moderately Hard

109 PPM

Nearest site: 7.7 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

ZIP code

17404

Moderately Hard

115 PPM

Nearest site: 6.1 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

York Water Co

PWSID PA7670100

Surface water

System population served: 206,762
Last reported: Jun 15, 2026

A municipal system, in-state city, and served county all agree with this Census ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Revised Total Coliform Rule	PA7670100	Jul 11, 2025	Unaddressed
CARBON, TOTAL	PA7670100	Jul 1, 2024	Resolved
CARBON, TOTAL	PA7670100	Oct 1, 2022	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	PA7670100	Jul 1, 2022	Resolved · health-based
Revised Total Coliform Rule	PA7670100	Jul 1, 2022	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Pennsylvania communities

Glen Rock

York County

98 PPM median

Red Lion

York County

107 PPM median

Carlisle

Cumberland County

112 PPM median

Montoursville

Lycoming County

112 PPM median

Minersville

Schuylkill County

111 PPM median

Columbia

Lancaster County

114 PPM median

Search all 50 Pennsylvania cities →

Questions people ask

About water in York

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 112 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.