Clean water is important to the health of animals and people. This indicator allows for Pennsylvania to protect streams for drinking water supplies, fishing, recreation, and the aquatic life that call the waterways home.

In general, Lancaster has higher rates of stream pollution than the state as a whole and than most neighboring counties. In 2024, nearly 77% of Lancaster's streams were pollution-impaired for aquatic life, 4.2% were pollution-impaired for fish consumption, 66% were pollution-impaired for recreation and 1% were pollution-impaired for water supply. This is significantly above state rates of nearly 22% for aquatic life, 13% for recreation, and 0.2% for water supply, but below the 6% for fish consumption.

Lancaster has higher rates of pollution impairment for aquatic life and recreation activities than any of its neighboring comparison counties. However, Chester (18%) and Dauphin (5.3%) have higher pollution impairment related to fish consumption and Chester (1.2%) has higher impairment for water supplies.

Waterbody assessment and data evaluation is a continuous process, so Integrated Reports are provided to EPA and the public every two years. Click on 2024 Integrated Report to learn more.