Coal Center, PA: 14 Health Violations - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Coal Center: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (14 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Drilling into federal monitoring figures for Coal Center in PA, the pattern is middle-of-the-road - some utilities have documented MCL exceedances or treatment technique violations in recent years, while others have operated without a single flag, making the city's grade a genuine average rather than a rounded-down high.
How Coal Center Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Coal Center Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 25 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0032 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 84% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Coal Center
Structurally, Coal Center, PA's water supply is divided. Federal data identifies 3 water systems in the area, with 3 providers serving the bulk of residential connections. These utilities operate independently, meaning rate-setting authority and EPA compliance accountability are distributed rather than centralized.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Coal Center, Pennsylvania (population ~1,942), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 44,944 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. 14 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Coal Center: 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
Coal Center water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0032 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 20 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 10 | 1 |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2031 | Other | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15423 | C | 25 | 14 | Pa-american Water-brownsville |
All ZIP Codes in Coal Center
- 15423 [C] - 25 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.
Top Contaminants in Coal Center Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Coal Center
With 84% 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
When more than half a city's housing predates the 1986 federal ban on lead solder, plumbing-era lead risk becomes a citywide concern rather than an exception. Coal Center's median build year of 1958 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in Coal Center 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Coal Center Homeowners
In Coal Center, the equity impact of remediation is proportionally small - not the kind of financial commitment that rises to the level of a genuine planning constraint, but a minor share of what most properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Coal Center are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 20% below the Pennsylvania average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Coal Center
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.
After the federal action removing lead-bearing solder from new plumbing took effect, building practice shifted - but 84% of the Coal Center inventory predates that line. With aggregate samples near or beyond 0.015 mg/L, an in-home check moves out of the optional column into the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Coal Center
Historical NFIP data for Coal Center contains 17 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $6,852. 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 Coal Center
- 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 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Coal Center's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 84% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Coal Center, PA