Chester Heights, PA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 40/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Chester Heights: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
State safety rankings put Chester Heights, PA near the lower tier - below-average compliance on record.
How Chester Heights Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Chester Heights Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 30 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0048 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 37% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
Chester Heights's Water Providers
With 2 utilities splitting service in Chester Heights, PA, water accountability is distributed across 2 systems on the federal record.
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Chester Heights, Pennsylvania (population ~297), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 963,037 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Chester Heights: D (40/100)
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
Chester Heights water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0048 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 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 1009 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Chromium | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Fluoride | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19017 | D | 30 | 1 | Chester Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Chester Heights
- 19017 [D] - 30 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 Chester Heights's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Chester Heights Infrastructure Age
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Because Chester Heights's housing stock spans a wide range of construction eras, the median build year of 1999 lands in a zone where two distinct risk populations share the same residential market. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered copper plumbing joints - that practice was federally prohibited in 1986 but remained standard until then. The fraction built before 1970 face an additional risk: lead pipes used for service line connections were common before that decade, meaning both the pipe and the solder may be lead-containing in the oldest structures. Residents in mid-century or earlier homes face a different risk environment than neighbors in houses built after 1986, even if they drink from the same utility's supply - and that property-level divergence is what makes the age distribution above more diagnostic than the city-wide median alone.
Most homes in Chester Heights were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Chester Heights
While no remediation project is entirely without cost, the relationship between estimated remediation and property values in Chester Heights is notably favorable - the equity share is small enough that the household financial perspective is one of proportionality rather than pressure, and most homeowners can treat it as routine planning rather than a significant financial event.
Remediation costs in Chester Heights are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,000–$4,100 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 159% above the Pennsylvania average.
Chester Heights: 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.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Chester Heights have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 37% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Chester Heights: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Chester Heights contains 4 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $17,648. 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 Chester Heights
- 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 Barium can reduce the most common contaminant found in Chester Heights's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 37% 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 Chester Heights, PA