Olean, NY: 26 Violations - Home Safety Score unavailable
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
Olean Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 26 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0045 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 89% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.32 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Olean
Water service in Olean, NY is split across 3 utilities out of 4 tracked federally, each operating its own infrastructure and compliance record.
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Olean, New York, covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 17,272 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Water Sources
Olean water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0045 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| PFOA | PFAS | 2 | 1 |
| PFNA | PFAS | 2 | 1 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14760 | — | 26 | 0 | Olean City |
All ZIP Codes in Olean
- 14760 - 26 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 Olean
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 Olean
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Olean's Housing Stock?
With 89% 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
Two dates define the high-risk tiers of residential plumbing from a lead standpoint: 1970, before which lead pipes were commonly installed for service connections, and 1986, before which lead solder was standard in copper plumbing. A median build year of 1948 places Olean's housing distribution well within that older risk zone. The bar chart above breaks down how much of the stock falls into each era - and the pre-1986 share alone represents more than half the residential inventory, making plumbing-era risk a defining characteristic of the local water safety picture.
Over half of homes in Olean 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.
Olean: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The cost-to-equity ratio for remediation in Olean is elevated - the financial planning challenge here is real and significant.
At 2.7% of home value, remediation costs in Olean represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $1,750–$3,900. Home values here are 73% below the New York average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Olean
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.
Wherever 89% of local housing was built before solder rules changed - as is the case in Olean - a faucet-level sample closes the gap that aggregate utility data cannot.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Olean
Historical NFIP data for Olean contains 58 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $14,285. 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>$2,700</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Olean, NY