Allentown, PA: 31 Violations - Home Safety 46/100
9 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Allentown: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
The grade shown for Allentown, PA falls at D or F, taken from the average of the composite Home Safety Scores of the city's scored ZIP codes. That composite can draw on several kinds of data, such as drinking water records, radon zone designations, PFAS monitoring and air quality, so a low grade does not by itself show which factor weighed most or what any single tap delivers. The report for your own ZIP code is the place to look at the pieces behind the number where you live.
How Allentown Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Allentown, PA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of Home Safety grades across Allentown.
Allentown Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 31 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0062 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 77% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
Water Systems Serving Allentown
3 systems shown for Allentown, PA, from 10 on the federal list.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 9 ZIP codes in Allentown, Pennsylvania (population ~176,993), covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 349,485 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 6 of 9 ZIP codes.
6 of 6 ZIP codes 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.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Allentown: D (46/100)
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
Allentown water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0062 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 6 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
9 of 9 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groundwater Rule | Treatment Technique | 15 | 6 |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 12 | 3 |
| Nitrite | Inorganic | 12 | 3 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 11 | 5 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 11 | 5 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18103 | D | 28 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
| 18104 | D | 22 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
| 18102 | D | 11 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
| 18106 | D | 9 | 0 | Lca Wlsa Central Division |
| 18109 | D | 7 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
| 18101 | D | 4 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
All ZIP Codes in Allentown
- 18101 [D] - 4 violations
- 18102 [D] - 11 violations
- 18103 [D] - 28 violations
- 18104 [D] - 22 violations
- 18105
- 18106 [D] - 9 violations
- 18109 [D] - 7 violations
- 18175
- 18195
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.
Key Contaminants Detected in Allentown
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Allentown's Housing Stock?
With 77% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Some homes in Allentown predate the 1986 federal restrictions on lead in new pipe and solder, so a tap test is a reasonable step for older homes; median build year: 1958.
Over half of homes in Allentown were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Allentown: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Measured against the median home value, the estimated cost of fixing the issues flagged for Allentown lands in the lowest of the three tiers this page uses.
Estimated remediation costs in Allentown can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 14% above the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Allentown
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Allentown
Historical NFIP data for Allentown contains 477 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $16,750. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 57% 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 $500 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 Allentown
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Groundwater Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Allentown: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 77% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Allentown, PA