East Pittsburgh, PA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 56/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for East Pittsburgh: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Compliance figures for East Pittsburgh indicate average water quality in PA overall - some service areas have recorded health-based violations in recent monitoring cycles, while others operate cleanly, making system-level data the most actionable reference point for residents.
How East Pittsburgh Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
East Pittsburgh Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 5 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0098 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 85% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,700 per household.
Water Systems Serving East Pittsburgh
A single utility carries the primary residential water load in East Pittsburgh, PA - the dominant provider across 1 federally tracked system.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (population ~3,345), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 125,000 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for East Pittsburgh: C (56/100)
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
East Pittsburgh water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0098 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atrazine | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 2 | 1 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15112 | C | 5 | 1 | Wilkinsburg-penn Jt Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in East Pittsburgh
- 15112 [C] - 5 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.
Key Contaminants Detected in East Pittsburgh
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is East Pittsburgh's Housing Stock?
With 85% 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
Federal plumbing rules changed in two stages - lead pipes were phased out before 1970, and lead solder was banned in 1986 - but in East Pittsburgh, where the median build year is 1957, most of the housing was already in place before those rules took effect. The materials installed under older standards remain embedded in a substantial portion of the residential inventory today.
Over half of homes in East Pittsburgh 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.
East Pittsburgh: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Elevated equity share - East Pittsburgh sits in the high tier when estimated remediation is measured against property values.
At 4.2% of home value, remediation costs in East Pittsburgh represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $2,600–$5,500. Home values here are 58% below the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in East Pittsburgh
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.
Households with kids in the home - for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure - face a specific local picture in East Pittsburgh. 85% of homes here come from the pre-rule era, and aggregate utility samples either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L. A baseline draw-test kit and certified lead-removal filtration are available via retailer networks for households confirming conditions at a specific tap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for East Pittsburgh
Historical NFIP data for East Pittsburgh contains 1 flood insurance claim. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $143,139. 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 <strong>$3,700</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 East Pittsburgh
- 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 Atrazine can reduce the most common contaminant found in East Pittsburgh's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 85% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for East Pittsburgh, PA