Centre Hall, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 50/100
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Centre Hall: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
In recent EPA cycles, Centre Hall shows a persistent below-average water quality pattern within PA - documented violations span multiple service areas and have appeared consistently across reporting periods.
How Centre Hall Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Centre Hall Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 122 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0433 mg/L - exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 68% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $6,780 per household.
Water Systems Serving Centre Hall
Federal records list 4 water systems tied to Centre Hall, PA. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Centre Hall, Pennsylvania (population ~4,774), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 86,650 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. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Centre Hall: D (50/100)
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
Centre Hall water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0433 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 50 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 14 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2005 | Other | 6 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2010 | Other | 6 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2015 | Other | 6 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16828 | D | 122 | 2 | State College Boro Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Centre Hall
- 16828 [D] - 122 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 Centre Hall
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Centre Hall's Housing Stock?
With 68% 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
The median home in Centre Hall was built in 1976 - a figure that places most of the city's residential stock in the era when lead solder was still standard in copper plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered joints; those built before 1970 face the additional possibility of lead pipes in the service line itself.
Over half of homes in Centre Hall 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.
Centre Hall: Remediation Cost in Perspective
When the numbers for Centre Hall are taken together, the remediation share is clearly in the elevated category - most homeowners here are weighing a commitment that extends beyond routine property upkeep, and the practical value of documenting scope early, prioritizing by urgency, and mapping costs against the household budget is proportionally higher at this tier.
At 2.5% of home value, remediation costs in Centre Hall represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $4,470–$9,340. Home values here are 29% above the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Centre Hall
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.
Wherever 68% of housing comes from before the federal solder ban and citywide samples cross the regulatory action mark - as in Centre Hall - household kits and a certified filter via retailer networks are the household-level tools.
<strong>1 ZIP code</strong> (100% 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.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Centre Hall
Historical NFIP data for Centre Hall contains 6 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $646.
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>$6,780</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 Centre Hall
- 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 Contaminant 0700 can reduce the most common contaminant found in Centre Hall's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 68% 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 Centre Hall, PA