Allentown, PA: 117 Violations — 48/100 (2026)
9 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
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 Last verified: 2026-06-03
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 water safety grades across Allentown.
Allentown Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 117 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.007 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 8 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.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 9 ZIP codes in Allentown, Pennsylvania (population ~176,993), covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 356,184 people region-wide.
9 of 9 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Allentown: D (48/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Allentown water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0070 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | Inorganic | 30 | 9 |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 30 | 9 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 20 | 9 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 20 | 9 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 9 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18101 | D | 13 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
| 18102 | D | 13 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
| 18103 | D | 13 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
| 18104 | D | 13 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
| 18105 | D | 13 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
| 18106 | D | 13 | 0 | Lca Wlsa Central Division |
| 18109 | D | 13 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
| 18175 | D | 13 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
| 18195 | D | 13 | 0 | Lca Allentown Division |
All ZIP Codes in Allentown
- 18101 [D] — 13 violations
- 18102 [D] — 13 violations
- 18103 [D] — 13 violations
- 18104 [D] — 13 violations
- 18105 [D] — 13 violations
- 18106 [D] — 13 violations
- 18109 [D] — 13 violations
- 18175 [D] — 13 violations
- 18195 [D] — 13 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
Updated daily.
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.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Allentown
Flood risk in Allentown occupies the middle ground: 476 NFIP claims and 78% of local ZIP codes within FEMA flood zones. At that level, the risk pathways connecting flooding to water quality — treatment system stress, well infiltration, distribution backflow — become relevant considerations during significant flood events, even if day-to-day water quality is unaffected by flood history.
Allentown has a moderate flood history with 476 FEMA claims averaging $8,444 per payout. 78% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,533</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
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 Copper 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