Coal Township, PA: High Radon Risk — 45/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated 2026-06-03
Unlike better-scoring cities in PA, Coal Township records health-based violations across a meaningful portion of its service areas — the overall safety grade is well below average.
How Coal Township Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Coal Township Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 94% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
Water Systems Serving Coal Township
In Coal Township, PA, the drinking water supply is organized under a single dominant utility — a consolidated structure that shapes how infrastructure investment, regulatory compliance, and rate decisions flow to households. When one provider handles the overwhelming share of residential connections out of 1 tracked system, accountability is clear: service upgrades, EPA violation responses, and tariff changes all funnel through that single organizational structure.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Coal Township, Pennsylvania (population ~9,808), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 43,000 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Coal Township — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Coal Township: D (45/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Coal Township water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Coal Township
- 0 ZIP codes 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.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17866 | D | AQUA PA ROARING CREEK DIVISION | 43,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Coal Township
- 17866 [D]
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
Updated daily.
How Old Is Coal Township's Housing Stock?
With 94% 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
For residents trying to assess tap water risk in Coal Township, the median build year of 1901 is the starting context. It signals that a majority of homes were constructed before 1986 — the year federal rules prohibited lead solder in new plumbing — and that a significant share likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still a common choice for residential service connections. Neither risk tier is rare in this housing inventory.
Over half of homes in Coal Township 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.
Coal Township: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The cost-to-equity ratio for remediation in Coal Township is elevated — the financial planning challenge here is real and significant.
At 2.8% of home value, remediation costs in Coal Township represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $1,600–$3,300. Home values here are 60% below the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Coal Township
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.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 94% of the Coal Township inventory was built in that earlier era — a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Coal Township
FEMA data shows 100% of Coal Township's ZIP codes mapped into designated flood zones, paired with an NFIP record of 30 claims. That footprint places local flood exposure in the range where it warrants attention without rising to high-severity planning territory.
Coal Township has a moderate flood history with 30 FEMA claims averaging $6,309 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,400</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Coal Township
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 94% 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 Coal Township, PA