Carmichaels, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Carmichaels: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (9 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Although much of Carmichaels meets baseline drinking water standards, some PA-tracked service areas show violations that merit a closer look - particularly for older housing stock.
How Carmichaels Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Carmichaels Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 93 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0018 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 79% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
Water Systems Serving Carmichaels
At present, 2 utilities serve the bulk of Carmichaels, PA's residential water connections out of 2 systems active in the area, spread across independent providers with separate infrastructure and compliance obligations.
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania (population ~4,578), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 44,400 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. 9 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Carmichaels: C (67/100)
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
Carmichaels water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0018 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 54 | 1 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 20 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 14 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15320 | C | 93 | 9 | Southwestern Pa Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Carmichaels
- 15320 [C] - 93 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 Carmichaels
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Carmichaels's Housing Stock?
With 79% 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
Because the majority of Carmichaels's housing predates 1986, when lead solder was banned from new plumbing, the median build year of 1962 reflects a city where lead-era plumbing materials are common rather than exceptional.
Over half of homes in Carmichaels 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.
Carmichaels: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Looking at how documented remediation costs fit within Carmichaels property values, the equity share lands in the moderate tier - a finding that positions the household financial perspective between routine maintenance and a significant budget commitment, where most homeowners can successfully address documented issues by treating the expense as a planned financial priority rather than an unexpected one.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Carmichaels. The estimated $800–$2,600 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 31% below the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Carmichaels
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.
Even where utility-side monitoring meets Lead and Copper Rule requirements, the 79% pre-rule share in Carmichaels keeps interior-plumbing variation as a household-level question that aggregate data cannot resolve.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Carmichaels
Historical NFIP data for Carmichaels contains 14 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $3,407. 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 Carmichaels
- 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 Lead and Copper Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Carmichaels's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 79% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Carmichaels, PA