Bowmanstown, PA - Home Safety Score unavailable
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Bowmanstown Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 7 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0186 mg/L - exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 99% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $8,340 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Bowmanstown
Bowmanstown, PA draws its water from one primary utility across 1 tracked system.
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Bowmanstown, Pennsylvania (population ~483), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 900 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.
Water Sources
Bowmanstown water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0186 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Radium-226 | Radionuclides | 2 | 1 |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18030 | — | 7 | 0 | Bowmanstown Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Bowmanstown
- 18030 - 7 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 Bowmanstown Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Bowmanstown
With 99% 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 Bowmanstown, the median build year of 1901 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 Bowmanstown 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 Bowmanstown Homeowners
Cost-to-value data for Bowmanstown produces a high remediation-share classification - the equity impact here is elevated, placing this market in the tier where financial preparation is a meaningful factor in how homeowners approach documented issues.
At 4.6% of home value, remediation costs in Bowmanstown represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $5,560–$11,220. Home values here are 16% below the Pennsylvania average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Bowmanstown
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.
Older interior plumbing dominates the Bowmanstown inventory at 99%, and citywide utility samples have crossed the federal action mark. Two independent indicators align here, raising lead to a household-level priority - particularly for families with kids.
<strong>1 ZIP code</strong> (100% of the city) exceeds the EPA lead action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Bowmanstown
Historical NFIP data for Bowmanstown contains 1 flood insurance claim. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $8,355. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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>$8,340</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Bowmanstown, PA