Erie
Erie, PA water profile — supply sources, drought status, wastewater reuse, and the key water issues facing the city.
erie city water authority
surface water (rivers/reservoirs) · local government · PWSID PA6250028
Below EPA's 15 ppb lead action level at last testing.
Source: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS) · 2026 Q1
With about 99,475 residents, Erie ranks as the 4th-largest city in Pennsylvania and a small but growing city. Water in Erie is sourced chiefly from Susquehanna River, Delaware River, and Allegheny, the backbone of Pennsylvania's supply.
The defining water pressure here mirrors the state's: aging infrastructure. Old industrial-era systems and PFAS near former military sites dominate the agenda.
Statewide, Pennsylvania recycles about 3% of its wastewater with minimal reuse programs. Locally, Erie faces moderate to severe drought conditions.
The Pennsylvania state profile covers the regional supply outlook; the issues below detail what's driving Erie's water future.
Erie County water quality
Source: EPA SDWIS · 2026 Q1
At a glance
- Population ~99,475 (4th-largest in Pennsylvania)
- Primary sources: Susquehanna River, Delaware River, and Allegheny
- Drought: moderate to severe conditions
- State reuse rate: ~3% of wastewater
Statewide drought history
% of Pennsylvania in severe+ drought (Severe (D2) now).
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor
Common questions
Is tap water safe in Erie?
Erie's largest water system, ERIE CITY WATER AUTHORITY, serves about 220,001 people. EPA records show 2 health-based violation(s) since 2016 and a most-recent 90th-percentile lead level of 1.1 ppb (EPA action level is 15 ppb). Always check your own provider's annual Consumer Confidence Report.
Where does Erie get its water?
ERIE CITY WATER AUTHORITY draws primarily from surface water (rivers/reservoirs), part of Pennsylvania's supply from Susquehanna River, Delaware River, Allegheny.
Related water issues
Aging Infrastructure
Much of America's water infrastructure is decades past its design life, leaking trillions of gallons a year and demanding hundreds of billions in reinvestment.
ExplorePFAS Contamination
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances persist in water supplies for decades. New federal limits are forcing utilities nationwide to invest in advanced treatment.
Explore