Doylestown, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 35/100
2 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Doylestown: F.
Federal data flags serious home-safety risks for this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
Within Doylestown, water quality data indicates below-average safety by PA standards - independent testing is a reasonable precaution for residents whose systems show active violations.
How Doylestown Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Doylestown Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 116 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0008 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 54% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,300 per household.
Water Systems Serving Doylestown
Doylestown, PA is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 10 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 51,125 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 2 ZIP codes.
2 of 2 ZIP codes 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 Doylestown: F (35/100)
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
Doylestown water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0008 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 2 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 2 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 27 | 2 |
| Contaminant 2110 | Other | 14 | 2 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 12 | 1 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 11 | 2 |
| Copper | Inorganic | 11 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18902 | F | 74 | 0 | Buckingham Twp Cold Spring |
| 18901 | F | 42 | 0 | Dtma Main System |
All ZIP Codes in Doylestown
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 Doylestown
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Doylestown's Housing Stock?
With 54% 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
Because the majority of Doylestown's housing predates 1986, when lead solder was banned from new plumbing, the median build year of 1986 reflects a city where lead-era plumbing materials are common rather than exceptional.
Over half of homes in Doylestown 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.
Doylestown: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Doylestown, property wealth outpaces what documented remediation typically demands - the equity burden lands well within the low tier.
Remediation costs in Doylestown are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,200–$4,450 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 199% above the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Doylestown
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.
Routinely in Doylestown, where 54% of housing predates the solder ban and aggregate utility readings hover near the federal threshold, a faucet-level draw functions as a standard household step for families with small kids.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Doylestown
Historical NFIP data for Doylestown contains 75 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $31,881. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% 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>$3,300</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 Doylestown
- 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 Contaminant 0700 can reduce the most common contaminant found in Doylestown's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 54% 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 Doylestown, PA