Carlisle, PA: Lead Above EPA Limits - Home Safety 33/100
2 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Carlisle: F.
Federal data flags serious home-safety risks for this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
Water systems serving Carlisle record elevated violation rates against PA benchmarks - residents in affected areas may want to check their local system's current compliance status.
How Carlisle Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Carlisle Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 118 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0321 mg/L - exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 62% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
Carlisle's Water Providers
Federal drinking water records identify 7 systems in Carlisle, PA. The leading 3 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations - so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
- F
- F
- F
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Carlisle, Pennsylvania (population ~61,978), covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 99,651 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 2 ZIP codes.
2 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Carlisle: F (33/100)
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
Carlisle water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0321 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 of 2 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 2 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 29 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 29 | 2 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 17 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 16 | 2 |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 15 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17015 | F | 85 | 3 | South Middleton Twp Water Authority |
| 17013 | F | 64 | 1 | Carlisle Water Trmt Plt |
All ZIP Codes in Carlisle
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 Carlisle's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Carlisle Infrastructure Age
With 62% 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
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Carlisle is predominantly an older city - a median build year of 1973 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.
Over half of homes in Carlisle 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 Carlisle
Is remediation financially manageable for Carlisle homeowners? At a moderate equity share, generally yes - with deliberate budgeting ahead of time.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Carlisle. The estimated $2,000–$4,100 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 32% above the Pennsylvania average.
Carlisle: 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.
Confirming what arrives at a household tap is the practical question that utility-side averages cannot answer for one specific address. In Carlisle, where 62% of housing predates the solder ban and citywide samples sit beyond the action level, a household kit and certified filtration are the household-level tools.
<strong>1 ZIP code</strong> (50% 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.
Carlisle: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Carlisle contains 134 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $10,059. 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>$3,000</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 Carlisle
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Lead testing is especially recommended given the area's lead levels.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Carlisle's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 62% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Carlisle, PA