Allentown, PA: 31 Violations - Home Safety 46/100
9 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Allentown: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
Across water systems in Allentown, EPA data shows a below-average compliance pattern for PA - health-based violations are on file in several areas, and checking the specific system serving your address is a practical first step for concerned residents.
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 in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0062 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 77% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,533 per household.
Water Systems Serving Allentown
Allentown, PA is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 10 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
- 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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 9 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 15 | 6 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 12 | 3 |
| Copper | Inorganic | 12 | 3 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 11 | 5 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 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. 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
When a city's housing median build year is 1958, as in Allentown, the implication for water quality research is straightforward: municipal-level data captures what leaves the treatment plant, but household plumbing from before 1986 determines what actually arrives at the tap. In cities where older housing predominates, that gap between system-level and household-level data is widest.
Over half of homes in Allentown 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.
Allentown: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The cost-to-value ratio in Allentown is in the moderate range - neither dismissible nor alarming, but above the threshold where remediation can be treated as incidental. Most homeowners here are weighing a real equity commitment, and the moderate classification reflects that accurately.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Allentown. The estimated $1,689–$3,433 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 14% above the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Allentown
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.
After the federal action removing lead-bearing solder from new plumbing took effect, building practice shifted - but 77% of the Allentown inventory predates that line. With aggregate samples near or beyond 0.015 mg/L, an in-home check moves out of the optional column into 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 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 <strong>$2,533</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 Allentown
- 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 Contaminant 0700 can reduce the most common contaminant found in Allentown's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 77% 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 Allentown, PA