Buckingham, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 39/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Buckingham: F.
Lowest grade in federal records; check your home directly.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
On the A-F scale ZipCheckup uses, Buckingham, PA rates a D or an F.
How Buckingham Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Buckingham Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 34 violations since 2021.
- Homes built before 1986: 100% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
Water Systems Serving Buckingham
More than one public water system is linked to Buckingham, PA: federal records tie 2 systems to the area, and the 2 with the largest reported service populations are shown below. Which of them supplies a particular address depends on where the property sits, and a water bill or the utility can confirm it.
- F
- F
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Buckingham, Pennsylvania (population ~250), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 5,445 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 Buckingham: F (39/100)
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
Buckingham water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: reported as 0 mg/L (a reported 0 is not proof of no lead; check the source record for its reporting limit) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 10 | 1 |
| 2,4,5-TP (Silvex) | Organic | 4 | 1 |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Nitrite | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18912 | F | 34 | 0 | Buckingham Twp Furlong |
All ZIP Codes in Buckingham
- 18912 [F] - 34 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.
Key Contaminants Detected in Buckingham
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Buckingham's Housing Stock?
With 100% 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
If you live in one of the pre-1986 homes in Buckingham, a certified lab test for lead is the direct way to learn what your tap delivers; the median build year of 1978 is only context.
Over half of homes in Buckingham 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.
Buckingham: Remediation Cost in Perspective
This section sets two area figures side by side for Buckingham: the median home value and an estimated remediation cost. Here the estimate equals no more than 1% of that value, which places the city in the low tier; it is an area estimate, and the cost for any one property can be higher or lower.
Estimated remediation costs in Buckingham can be compared with local home values. The $400–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 837% above the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Buckingham
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.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Buckingham
Historical NFIP data for Buckingham contains 7 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $28,978. 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 $600 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 Buckingham
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Revised Total Coliform Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Buckingham: 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 100% 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 Buckingham, PA