California, PA: 12 Health Violations - Home Safety 68/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for California: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (12 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
The systems supplying California vary in performance across PA benchmarks - most meet minimum federal standards, but documented violations in select areas are on record.
How California Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for California Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 21 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.002 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 83% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
California's Water Providers
California, PA is covered by 2 major water utilities out of 2 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in California, Pennsylvania (population ~3,527), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 17,944 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. 12 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for California: C (68/100)
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
California water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0020 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 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 16 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 10 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2274 | Other | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15419 | C | 21 | 12 | Pa-american Water-brownsville |
All ZIP Codes in California
- 15419 [C] - 21 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 California's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
California Infrastructure Age
With 83% 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
When more than half a city's housing predates the 1986 federal ban on lead solder, plumbing-era lead risk becomes a citywide concern rather than an exception. California's median build year of 1965 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in California 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 California
Within the California property market, documented remediation claims a moderate slice of typical equity - real but budgetable.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in California. The estimated $800–$2,600 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 43% below the Pennsylvania average.
California: 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.
Older stock in California represents 83% of the inventory, and citywide monitoring runs at or above the federal action level - making an in-home read a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
California: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for California contains 31 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $8,285. 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>$1,600</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 California
- 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 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) can reduce the most common contaminant found in California's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 83% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for California, PA