Athens, PA: 3 Violations - Home Safety 66/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Athens: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Across Athens, EPA compliance data for PA sits at a moderate level - not alarming, but not uniformly clean across all service areas either.
How Athens Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Athens Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 3 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0008 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 85% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,700 per household.
Athens's Water Providers
Most residential addresses in Athens, PA are served by a single water utility - the dominant system among the 1 provider tracked in federal data.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Athens, Pennsylvania (population ~5,477), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 15,569 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Athens: C (66/100)
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
Athens water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0008 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 | 4 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18810 | C | 3 | 0 | Aqua Pa Susquehanna Division |
All ZIP Codes in Athens
- 18810 [C] - 3 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.
What's in Athens's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Athens Infrastructure Age
With 85% 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
For residents trying to assess tap water risk in Athens, the median build year of 1964 is the starting context. It signals that a majority of homes were constructed before 1986 - the year federal rules prohibited lead solder in new plumbing - and that a significant share likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still a common choice for residential service connections. Neither risk tier is rare in this housing inventory.
Over half of homes in Athens 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Athens
Although the Athens remediation share is moderate, it remains reachable for most homeowners who plan for the expense in advance.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Athens. The estimated $2,600–$5,500 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 5% below the Pennsylvania average.
Athens: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
85% of Athens housing dates to the pre-rule era, alongside aggregate readings hovering at the federal action mark - household-level confirmation through a draw-test kit fits the local picture.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Athens: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Athens contains 133 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $71,376. 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>$3,700</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.
What You Can Do in Athens
- 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 Athens's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 85% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Athens, PA