Centre Hall, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 50/100
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Centre Hall: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Behind the low grade for Centre Hall, PA is an average of ZIP-level Home Safety Scores, a composite measure rather than a water test.
How Centre Hall Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Centre Hall Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 122 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0433 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
- Homes built before 1986: 68% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $4,380 per household.
Water Systems Serving Centre Hall
Multiple utilities show up for Centre Hall, PA: 3 are listed here out of 4 tracked federally.
- 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 of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Groundwater Rule | Treatment Technique | 50 | 1 |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 14 | 1 |
| Endrin | Organic | 6 | 1 |
| BHC-gamma (Lindane) | Organic | 6 | 1 |
| Methoxychlor | Organic | 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. 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
Plumbing risk in older housing is tied to the period before 1986, when lead pipes and lead solder were still permitted in new plumbing. Centre Hall's median build year is 1976, and properties from before that year might still contain lead-bearing joints or pipes. Much of that risk sits inside individual properties, which city-level water quality averages don't capture.
Over half of homes in Centre Hall 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.
Centre Hall: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Centre Hall, estimated remediation lands between the 1% and 2% cutoffs as a share of what the median home is worth.
Estimated remediation costs in Centre Hall can be compared with local home values. The estimated $2,870–$6,040 range is a planning estimate; get a property-specific quote and check it against your budget. Home values are 29% above the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Centre Hall
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.
With pre-1986 construction at 68% and area lead results averaging over 0.015 mg/L, testing tap water is a priority step for Centre Hall families with children.
1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA 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 $4,380 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. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
- Install a certified water filter. For Groundwater Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Centre Hall: 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 68% 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 Centre Hall, PA