Duncansville, PA: 3 Health Violations - Home Safety 52/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Duncansville: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Compared to PA averages, Duncansville scores below the baseline - health violations appear more frequently than the norm and the city's grade reflects that ongoing shortfall.
How Duncansville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Duncansville Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 39 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0029 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 59% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
Duncansville's Water Providers
Duncansville, PA is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 5 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.
- D
- D
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Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Duncansville, Pennsylvania (population ~12,115), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 77,323 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. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Duncansville: D (52/100)
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
Duncansville water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0029 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 1 |
| Contaminant 1011 | Other | 10 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 10 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16635 | D | 39 | 3 | Altoona Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Duncansville
- 16635 [D] - 39 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 Duncansville's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Duncansville Infrastructure Age
With 59% 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 a city's housing median build year is 1971, as in Duncansville, the implication for water quality research is straightforward: municipal-level data captures what leaves the treatment plant, but household plumbing from before 1986 determines what actually arrives at the tap. In cities where older housing predominates, that gap between system-level and household-level data is widest.
Over half of homes in Duncansville 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Duncansville
Viewed from a financial planning lens, Duncansville sits in the moderate remediation-share tier - the equity impact of addressing documented issues is real, and deliberate preparation separates smooth outcomes from disruptive ones for most homeowners.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Duncansville. The estimated $1,600–$3,300 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 12% below the Pennsylvania average.
Duncansville: 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.
Routinely in Duncansville, where 59% 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.
Duncansville: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Duncansville contains 129 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $14,485. 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>$2,400</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 Duncansville
- 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 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Duncansville's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 59% 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 Duncansville, PA