Emmaus, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 33/100
3 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Emmaus: F.
Lowest grade in federal records; check your home directly.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
Treat the D-F grade for Emmaus, PA as a summary of available data, not a measurement at your faucet.
How Emmaus Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Emmaus Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 113 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.003 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $900 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Emmaus
3 systems shown for Emmaus, PA, from 5 on the federal list.
- F
- F
- F
Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Emmaus, Pennsylvania (population ~18,693), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 65,495 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 3 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 Emmaus: F (33/100)
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
Emmaus water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0030 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
3 of 3 ZIP records with known zones are 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 | 14 | 1 |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 6 | 1 |
| Nitrite | Inorganic | 6 | 1 |
| Endrin | Organic | 6 | 1 |
| BHC-gamma (Lindane) | Organic | 6 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18049 | F | 113 | 1 | Emmaus Borough Public Water |
All ZIP Codes in Emmaus
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 Emmaus Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Emmaus Homeowners
Here the gap between local home values and the estimated repair bill is wide, so the percentage shown below for Emmaus stays at or under the 1% mark.
Estimated remediation costs in Emmaus can be compared with local home values. The $550–$1,400 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 32% above the Pennsylvania average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Emmaus
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.
Available area-level lead records for Emmaus do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Emmaus
Historical NFIP data for Emmaus contains 47 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $14,809. 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 $900 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 Emmaus
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Groundwater Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Emmaus: 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. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
- 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 Emmaus, PA