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 the 2023-25 reporting period, 62% of Lancaster's streams were pollution-impaired for aquatic life, 4% were pollution-impaired for fish consumption, 66% were pollution-impaired for recreation and 2% were pollution-impaired for water supply. This is significantly above state rates of 19% for aquatic life, 15% for recreation, and 0.3% for water supply, but below the 7% for fish consumption.

Lancaster has higher rates of pollution impairment for aquatic life, recreation activities and the water supply than any of its neighboring comparison counties. However, Chester (18%) and Dauphin (5%) have higher pollution impairment related to fish consumption.

Waterbody assessment and data evaluation is a continuous process, so Integrated Reports are provided to EPA and the public every two years. Click on 2026 Integrated Report to learn more.