Cresco, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 41/100
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Cresco: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
Because the grade blends several data sources, a D or F for Cresco, PA does not by itself say which one drove it; the ZIP-level reports show the underlying data.
How Cresco Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Cresco Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 28 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0255 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: $4,580 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Cresco
Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 3 shown below do not apply to the others among the 4 tied to Cresco, PA.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Cresco, Pennsylvania (population ~3,574), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 20,486 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Cresco: D (41/100)
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
Cresco water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0255 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 | 6 | 1 |
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Nitrite | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18326 | D | 28 | 0 | Aqua Pa Mountainhome System |
All ZIP Codes in Cresco
- 18326 [D] - 28 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 Cresco Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Cresco
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
If you live in one of the pre-1986 homes in Cresco, a certified lab test for lead is the direct way to learn what your tap delivers; the median build year of 1973 is only context.
Over half of homes in Cresco 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Cresco Homeowners
Set against the median home value, the remediation estimate for Cresco lands in the middle of three tiers - above 1% but no higher than 2%.
Estimated remediation costs in Cresco can be compared with local home values. The estimated $3,020–$6,240 range is a planning estimate; get a property-specific quote and check it against your budget. Home values are 15% above the Pennsylvania average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Cresco
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.
Water systems report 90th-percentile lead results; averaged across Cresco ZIP codes, they come to more than 15 ppb, and 68% of homes predate 1986.
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 NFIP Claim Context in Cresco
Historical NFIP data for Cresco contains 4 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $5,229. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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 $4,580 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 Cresco
- 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 Cresco: 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 Cresco, PA