When you turn on your tap in Allentown, Pennsylvania’s third-largest city with over 125,000 residents, you expect clean, refreshing water. But beneath the surface lies a complex network of water sources and treatment facilities working around the clock to deliver safe drinking water to neighborhoods from downtown’s historic districts to communities near Dorney Park. Whether you’re a longtime resident or new to the Lehigh Valley, understanding your local water quality is essential for protecting your family’s health and your home’s plumbing systems.
For over 25 years, Dierolf Plumbing & Water Treatment has served as Southeastern Pennsylvania’s trusted water quality experts. With more than 1,000 five-star reviews, our team of Licensed Master Plumbers and Licensed Well Inspectors has helped thousands of Lehigh Valley families address everything from hard water scale to emerging contaminants like PFAS. We provide customized solutions backed by professional water testing, transparent pricing, and the deep local expertise that comes from serving your community for over two decades.
Understanding Allentown’s Water Supply and Quality Challenges
Allentown’s drinking water comes from a diverse network managed by Lehigh County Authority, drawing from five primary sources: Schantz Spring, Crystal Spring, the Little Lehigh Creek, groundwater wells, and the Lehigh River as emergency backup. The average daily demand reaches approximately 24.5 million gallons serving 55,000 properties through 662 miles of pipes. Surface water from the Little Lehigh Creek undergoes comprehensive treatment including coagulation, flocculation, settling, and filtration at LCA’s full-scale plant, while exceptionally clean groundwater sources require minimal treatment beyond chlorination.
Many Allentown homeowners experience moderate to hard water containing elevated calcium and magnesium levels. While not harmful to drink, these minerals create persistent problems: white chalky buildup on fixtures, reduced appliance efficiency, spotty dishes, and dry skin after showering. Over time, mineral scale accumulates inside pipes and water heaters, shortening lifespans and increasing energy costs. Professional water softener systems remove hardness through ion exchange, protecting your plumbing investment while delivering noticeably better water quality. Learn more in our guide: How a Water Softener Works.
PFAS, Lead, and Emerging Contaminants in the Lehigh Valley
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—”forever chemicals”—have become a significant regional concern. The EPA announced final drinking water regulations for six PFAS compounds in April 2024, and recent testing has detected PFAS in Lehigh Valley waterways, with neighboring communities like Emmaus addressing elevated levels. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, PFAS monitoring continues throughout Pennsylvania’s groundwater and surface waters. For concerned homeowners, specialized treatment including reverse osmosis systems can significantly reduce these contaminants.
Lead exposure remains a concern in older Allentown neighborhoods. Homes built before 1960 have greater possibility of containing lead service lines, and corrosive water can leach lead into drinking water. Recent testing identified elevated lead levels in several Lehigh Valley schools, including 19 positive tests in Allentown School District facilities in 2019-20 according to Lehigh Valley News. While LCA adds corrosion control treatments, individual homes may still be at risk. Professional water testing identifies lead risks, and certified treatment systems provide effective protection. Lehigh County Authority offers detailed information at their Lead in Drinking Water page.
Chlorine Taste and Water Quality Improvements
LCA uses chlorine as the primary disinfection agent, which is essential for public health but often creates objectionable taste and odor—especially during summer months. Independent testing through the EWG Tap Water Database has identified disinfection byproducts including trihalomethanes in Allentown’s water supply, which form when chlorine reacts with organic matter. Whole-home carbon filtration systems effectively remove chlorine and chloramines, eliminating that “swimming pool” taste while reducing disinfection byproducts. Our article Why Your Water Tastes Weird explores common taste and odor issues in detail.
Community Connection
Allentown’s vibrant community extends beyond water quality. Whether you’re grabbing morning coffee at Jay’s Local near Muhlenberg College, working out at Steel Fitness Premier, or catching a Lehigh Valley Phantoms game at PPL Center, you’re part of a city that values quality of life—and quality water supports that lifestyle. These local businesses understand what we’ve known for 25+ years: when your water quality improves, everything else gets better too.
Comprehensive Water Quality & Plumbing Solutions for Allentown Homeowners
At Dierolf Plumbing & Water Treatment, our approach starts with comprehensive water testing and analysis specific to your home’s unique chemistry. We don’t guess about water quality issues—we test, analyze, and design solutions tailored to Allentown’s water challenges. As Licensed Master Plumbers and Licensed Well Inspectors serving Lehigh County, our team brings both technical expertise and local understanding to every consultation.
Whether you need a complete water treatment system to address multiple concerns, targeted solutions like iron filtration or acid neutralizers, or reliable residential plumbing services, we deliver honest, upfront pricing with no surprises. Our well inspection services are essential for Allentown homeowners on private wells, and our water heater expertise ensures your system operates efficiently with your treated water.
Frequently Asked Questions About Water Quality in Allentown
How do I know if I need water treatment in my Allentown home? Common indicators include white scale buildup on faucets, spots on dishes, dry skin after showering, chlorine smell or metallic taste, rust-colored staining, or reduced water pressure. The most reliable approach is professional water testing that analyzes your specific water chemistry—including hardness, iron, pH, total dissolved solids, and potential contaminants like lead or PFAS. Dierolf offers complimentary in-home water testing throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania.
What’s the difference between treating city water versus well water? Municipal water from Lehigh County Authority already undergoes treatment for safety but may still benefit from additional treatment to address hardness, chlorine taste, or lead concerns in older homes. Private wells are entirely the homeowner’s responsibility—no municipal treatment occurs. Well owners need comprehensive testing and typically require multiple treatment stages including sediment filtration, pH correction, iron or hardness removal, and UV disinfection. As Licensed Well Inspectors, Dierolf specializes in complete well water treatment systems tailored to Lehigh Valley geology.
How often should I have my water tested in Allentown? For municipal water customers, testing every 3-5 years is sufficient unless you notice changes in taste, odor, or appearance, or have concerns about lead in older homes. Well owners should test annually following CDC and Pennsylvania DEP recommendations, including testing for coliform bacteria, nitrates, pH, and total dissolved solids. Every 3-5 years, expand testing to include lead, arsenic, iron, manganese, hardness, and PFAS screening.
Don’t wait until water problems damage your plumbing or affect your family’s health. Take the first step toward better water today with a complimentary water test and consultation. Contact Dierolf Plumbing & Water Treatment at dscwater.com/contact-us to schedule your free in-home water analysis. Your water quality journey starts with a single conversation—and we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
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Bryan was very professional, courteous, and efficient. Great service, thank you!
Great job installing our new water filtration system! Installers were very communicative and efficient. Well done.
Very very helpful and nice people! Wow i thought companies that care were gone not so!!! Dierolf’s people care and i think it’s a real reflection of the owner and how he runs his company and actually cares!! Thank you for a super great job and for caring!!
Service was great and very efficient. The guys were very friendly and quickly replaced the pump without any issues. Thank you.
They did a great job installing a new toilet in my bathroom. They were neat, clean, and paid attention to detail. Chris answered all of my plumbing questions without hesitation. Very satisfied... Highly recommend
