Lake Hopatcong, NJ: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 38/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Lake Hopatcong: F.
Federal data flags serious home-safety risks for this ZIP.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (8 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Water compliance in Lake Hopatcong, NJ ranks below average - documented gaps in multiple service areas.
How Lake Hopatcong Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Lake Hopatcong Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 69 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 72% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 9.89.
Water Systems Serving Lake Hopatcong
Across most of Lake Hopatcong, NJ, residential water comes from a single utility. That provider sets rates, manages infrastructure maintenance, and files compliance reports with the EPA on behalf of the households it serves. Federal tracking data shows 1 system on record, but one carries the bulk of the service load.
- F
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 8,475 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 8 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Lake Hopatcong: F (38/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Lake Hopatcong water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 40 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 20 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 16 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 1 |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 8 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07849 | F | 69 | 8 | Jefferson Twp W U Lk Hop |
All ZIP Codes in Lake Hopatcong
- 07849 [F] - 69 violations ⚠
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for Lake Hopatcong
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Lake Hopatcong
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Lake Hopatcong's Housing Stock?
With 72% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Reading the housing age data for Lake Hopatcong - median build year 1965 - the overriding implication is that the plumbing materials inside a typical home here reflect pre-1986 construction standards. In practical terms, that means lead-soldered copper joints are common across much of the housing stock. Where those materials are present, water can leach lead as it moves through joints - a pathway that corrosion control treatment under federal rules is designed to reduce, though it cannot eliminate lead risk where the plumbing materials themselves contain lead.
Over half of homes in Lake Hopatcong were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Lake Hopatcong: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Setting Lake Hopatcong remediation figures against its property market, the resulting ratio sits comfortably in the low tier - a classification that reflects the kind of household financial position where most homeowners can identify documented issues, schedule the work, and absorb the cost without it registering as a significant budget disruption.
Remediation costs in Lake Hopatcong are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,300–$5,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 15% below the New Jersey average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Lake Hopatcong
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 72% of the Lake Hopatcong inventory was built in that earlier era - a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Lake Hopatcong
Historical NFIP data for Lake Hopatcong contains 60 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $11,511. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$3,600</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Lake Hopatcong
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Lake Hopatcong's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 72% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Lake Hopatcong, NJ