Braddock, PA: Lead Above EPA Action Level - Home Safety 53/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Braddock: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (5 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Low marks: Braddock, PA sits below the midpoint of the ZipCheckup grade scale.
How Braddock Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Braddock Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 11 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0226 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
- Homes built before 1986: 95% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $6,300 per household.
Braddock's Water Providers
Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 2 shown below do not apply to the others among the 2 tied to Braddock, PA.
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Braddock, Pennsylvania (population ~7,946), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 126,708 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. 5 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Braddock: D (53/100)
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
Braddock water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0226 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
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| Asbestos | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15104 | D | 11 | 5 | Wilkinsburg-penn Jt Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Braddock
- 15104 [D] - 11 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 Braddock's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Braddock Infrastructure Age
With 95% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
By Census estimates, roughly half or more of the homes in Braddock were built before 1986; the median build year is 1948.
Over half of homes in Braddock were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. 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 Braddock
Relative to home prices, Braddock remediation estimates run high.
Estimated remediation costs in Braddock equal about 11.1% of the median home value; how much that burdens a household depends on its finances. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $4,100–$9,100. Home values here are 73% below the Pennsylvania average.
Braddock: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
With pre-1986 construction at 95% and area lead results averaging over 0.015 mg/L, testing tap water is a priority step for Braddock families with children.
1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Braddock: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Braddock contains 11 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $2,755. 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 $6,300 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 Braddock
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
- Install a certified water filter. For Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), listed in the water-quality records for Braddock: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 95% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Braddock, PA