Erie, Pennsylvania Water Outage Today
Live Erie water outage reports, Erie Water Works’s emergency line and the system’s federal record.
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
No water outage reports in Erie, Pennsylvania in the last 24 hours
The most recent water outage report from Erie came in on September 11, 2026. Across Pennsylvania, 1 report came in over the same 24 hours. Cleveland, 94 miles away, has 1 report.
Who supplies water in Erie?
Drinking water in Erie, Pennsylvania is supplied by Erie Water Works, which handles outages, main breaks and boil water notices for the city.
Public water systems in Pennsylvania are regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
To report no water or a main break, call Erie Water Works at 814-870-8087.
Erie water system at a glance
Federal records name Erie City Water Authority as the public water system for Erie, with about 220,001 people on its mains. Customers know it as Erie Water Works; the name on your bill is the one to call.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Water system in EPA records | Erie City Water Authority (PA6250028) |
| Run by | Local government |
| People served | 220,001 through 63,820 service connections |
| Source of the water | Surface water (rivers, lakes or reservoirs) |
| Active facilities listed by EPA | 3 surface intakes, 17 treatment points |
| State regulator | Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) |
| Health-based violations since 2015 | 2 |
| Highest lead result (90th percentile) | 1.2 ppb, action level 15 ppb |
Source: EPA SDWIS (Safe Drinking Water Information System).
What feeds the taps in Erie
Erie drinks surface water. Erie City Water Authority draws it from Lake Erie Chestnut, Lake Erie West, and Presque Isle Bay and treats it before it goes into the distribution system. Treatment points named in EPA's facility list include Rsw Plant, Cherry Ps Plant, and Sigsbee Ps Plant.
What this means in an outage. Because the water is drawn from open surface sources, it has to be filtered and disinfected continuously. A plant problem therefore hits everyone at once, unlike a main break, which only dries up the blocks on either side of the damaged pipe.
Why the water goes out in Erie
Which failures hit Erie hardest follows from its weather, its housing stock and how it is supplied.
- Freezing weather. Erie sees about 114 days a year with a low at or below 32°F, and 35 days at or below 20°F. The coldest morning in the 2015 through 2025 record came on February 16, 2015. The longest stretch with highs that never rose above freezing ran 22 days, ending March 2, 2015. Frost pushes into shallow service lines first. Mains follow when the ground heaves and thaws, which is why break counts climb a day or two after the temperature swings.
- Older neighborhoods and pipe. 77.2% of occupied homes in Erie were built before 1970, against 35.5% nationally. Streets of that age tend to sit on cast iron and early steel mains that are near or past their design life, which is where most breaks start.
- Storm-driven power loss. Thunderstorm wind, hail and tornado reports in Erie County number 149 since 2015. Pump stations and treatment plants that depend on Penelec (FirstEnergy) run on the electric grid, so a storm that downs power lines can lower water pressure even when no pipe is damaged.
- Digging and utility work. Street projects, fiber installation and excavation near buried pipe regularly cut mains in Erie with no warning, usually on a day with perfectly ordinary weather.
- Planned shutoffs and a problem at one address. Valve replacements and new connections are announced ahead, often with door hangers. If neighbors have water, check your own shutoff valve, meter and pressure regulator before calling.
Erie weather and water-main stress, 2015–2025
Main break season in Erie runs from late fall into early spring, with the coldest stretch around December through February.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Days a year at or below 32°F | 114.4 |
| Days a year at or below 20°F | 34.7 |
| Days a year with a high at or below 32°F | 39.8 |
| Days a year at or above 95°F | 0 |
| Days a year at or above 100°F | 0 |
| Days a year with an inch of rain or more | 1.1 |
| Average annual precipitation | 36.5 in |
| Wettest year | 2018 (44.2 in) |
| Driest year | 2021 (30.7 in) |
| Coldest day in the record | February 16, 2015 |
| Hottest day in the record | July 9, 2020 |
Source: NASA POWER daily reanalysis (MERRA-2) for the city center, 2015–2025.
Freezing days peak in January, averaging 28.1 a year. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
The wettest year was 2018 with 44.2 inches; the driest was 2021 with 30.7. Source: NASA POWER reanalysis, 2015–2025.
These counts come from a gridded reanalysis, which smooths out single-day extremes and can differ by a few degrees from an airport thermometer. Use them to compare seasons and years, not as official station records.
Erie boil water notices and EPA compliance record
EPA lists 2 health-based violations for Erie City Water Authority since 2015. It also lists 21 monitoring or reporting entries that are about paperwork rather than water quality, such as a missed sample or a late report.
Most recent health-based entries:
- October 2018: A single turbidity (cloudiness) reading above the limit in treated water It is marked resolved.
- January 2017: Drinking water above the legal limit for total trihalomethanes It is marked resolved.
| Type of violation | Health-based | Monitoring and other |
|---|---|---|
| Disinfection byproducts | 1 | 11 |
| Surface water treatment and turbidity | 1 | 5 |
| Coliform bacteria testing | 0 | 4 |
| Chemical and radiological contaminants | 0 | 1 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Monitoring and other Health-based
Violations are counted by the year the compliance period began. Source: EPA SDWIS.
When Erie loses pressure after a break or a failed test, Erie Water Works asks affected customers to boil water for drinking and cooking. The notice ends only after samples come back clean, which usually takes one to two days after service returns, and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) supervises the process.
What the lead tests and housing age say about Erie
The most recent 90th-percentile lead result filed for Erie City Water Authority is 1.1 ppb (2025). The federal action level is 15 ppb, so that result is comfortably below it.
Highest result on file: 1.2 ppb. Source: EPA SDWIS.
The age of the housing matters more than the utility's test average: 77.2% of occupied homes in Erie predate 1970 and 1986 was the year lead pipe and solder were banned. Flush the cold tap after an outage and ask Erie Water Works whether your service line is on its lead inventory.
When will the water come back on in Erie?
A crew that arrives at an ordinary main break in Erie usually needs 4 to 8 hours to isolate the pipe, dig, repair, flush and restore pressure. Large transmission mains, deep pipes and breaks under busy streets can take a day or more.
| Situation | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Planned shutoff | A few hours inside a window announced in advance |
| Ordinary main break | Half a day once the crew has isolated the pipe |
| Large or deep main | 1 to 3 days |
| Low pressure after a pump or power failure | As long as the outage itself, plus a few hours to refill tanks |
| Boil water notice after service returns | About 24 to 48 hours, until lab tests are clean |
| Frozen service line or meter | Until it thaws or a plumber repairs it |
Source: Utility practice, EPA and state boil water guidance.
Erie Water Works will post an estimated restoration time for a break that affects many customers; ask for the repair crew's estimate when you call.
How much water to keep on hand in Erie
With about 2.4 people in the typical Erie home, FEMA's one-gallon-per-person-per-day rule means 7 gallons covers three days and 33 gallons covers two weeks.
- 18.3% of residents report a disability (US 13.3%), so check on neighbors who rely on running water for medical equipment.
- Your water heater tank holds 30 to 50 gallons of clean water. Turn off the power or gas to it first, then drain from the valve at the bottom.
- Fill the bathtub and a few large pots as soon as you hear a break is likely; that water is for flushing and washing, not drinking.
Erie versus neighboring water utilities
| City | System | People served | Source | Health violations since 2015 | Highest lead (ppb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Erie, PA | Erie City Water Authority | 220,001 | Surface | 2 | 1.2 |
| Youngstown, OH | Youngstown City Public Water System | 130,530 | Bought (surface) | 0 | 2.2 |
| Buffalo, NY | Buffalo Water Authority | 276,000 | Surface | 0 | 4.9 |
| Cleveland, OH | Cleveland Public Water System | 1,308,955 | Surface | 0 | 1.7 |
| Parma, OH | Cleveland Public Water System | 1,308,955 | Surface | 0 | 1.7 |
Source: EPA SDWIS.
Water outage pages for nearby cities
Where to find official Erie water notices
Official word on main breaks, planned shutoffs and boil advisories comes from Erie Water Works, not from this page. Our water outage guide explains what each kind of notice asks you to do.
Erie water outage questions
Who do I call about no water in Erie?
Erie Water Works at 814-870-8087, day or night. Use 911 only if a main break is flooding property or roads.
Is Erie water from a river, lake or well?
Surface water supplies Erie, according to EPA records for Erie City Water Authority. It draws from Lake Erie Chestnut, Lake Erie West, and Presque Isle Bay.
Is Erie tap water safe to drink?
EPA lists 2 health-based violations for Erie City Water Authority since 2015, most recently a single turbidity (cloudiness) reading above the limit in treated water in October 2018, and its latest 90th-percentile lead result is 1.1 ppb against the 15 ppb action level. If the utility issues a boil notice, boil water until it announces the all-clear.
What time of year are Erie water main breaks most common?
Cold weather drives most breaks in Erie, which averages about 114 freezing days a year. Expect the most calls from December through February, especially a day or two after a hard freeze when the ground thaws.
What causes low water pressure in Erie?
A sudden drop usually means a break or valve problem nearby, while a slow decline in the evening points to demand. If the whole street is affected, tell Erie Water Works; if not, look at your own regulator and shutoff.
How long does a boil water notice last in Erie?
Typically a day or two. Bacteria tests take about 24 hours, so Erie Water Works cannot end a notice until clean samples come back; the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) sets the rules for that process.
How many gallons of emergency water does a Erie family need?
One gallon per person per day is the FEMA minimum. For Erie that means about 7 gallons to cover three days for an average household of 2.4, and 33 gallons for two weeks.
Should I worry about lead in Erie water?
77.2% of occupied homes in Erie were built before 1970, and lead service lines were not banned until 1986. Ask Erie Water Works whether your service line is on its lead inventory, and use a filter certified for lead if you are unsure.
Where can I see water outages in Erie?
This page shows resident reports from Erie for the last 24 hours. For a street-by-street picture, use the alerts and outage page of Erie Water Works; many utilities also text boil notices.
Recent water reports in Erie
- Water reports in Erie, last 24h
- 0
- Most recent water report here
- September 11, 2026
- Water reports across Pennsylvania, last 24h
- 1
- City population
- 94,940
Other outage types in Erie
Water Service Outages in cities near Erie
- Youngstown, OH 77 mi · City of Youngstown Water Department
- Buffalo, NY 81 mi · Buffalo Water
- Cleveland, OH 94 mi · Cleveland Water · 1 report in 24h
- Parma, OH 98 mi · Cleveland Water
- Akron, OH 104 mi · Akron Water Supply
- Canton, OH 114 mi · City of Canton Water Department
Report counts are user-submitted; other figures name their official source. How our data works
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