Ambler, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 33/100
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Ambler: F.
Federal data flags serious home-safety risks for this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
A meaningful share of water systems in Ambler have recorded health-based violations in recent PA monitoring periods - placing the city in the lower tier for tap water safety.
How Ambler Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Ambler Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 153 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0023 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 72% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,600 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Ambler
Federal drinking water records identify 4 systems in Ambler, PA. The leading 3 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations - so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
- F
- F
- F
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Ambler, Pennsylvania (population ~31,681), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 941,096 people region-wide. 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Ambler: F (33/100)
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
Ambler water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0023 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 30 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 8 | 1 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 8 | 1 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 1009 | Other | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19002 | F | 153 | 1 | Ambler Boro Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Ambler
- 19002 [F] - 153 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.
Top Contaminants in Ambler Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Ambler
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
What does a median build year of 1977 mean for water safety in Ambler? It means the majority of the city's residential plumbing was installed before 1986, when lead solder was federally banned, and a large share may predate 1970, when lead pipes were commonly used - making plumbing age a central variable in household-level lead risk across much of the city.
Over half of homes in Ambler 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Ambler Homeowners
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Ambler, the resulting ratio is low - a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.
Remediation costs in Ambler are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,400–$4,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 162% above the Pennsylvania average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Ambler
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.
If 72% of the Ambler inventory comes from before the federal ban on lead-bearing solder - and if utility samples sit at or near 0.015 mg/L - the gap between citywide averages and one specific faucet becomes a practical concern rather than a theoretical one. That is why one-home reads exist as a separate measurement. A certified filter through retailer networks addresses confirmed exposure where it appears in a household.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Ambler
Historical NFIP data for Ambler contains 382 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $24,006. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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 Ambler
- 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 Ambler'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 Ambler, PA