Erie, PA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 74/100
28 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Erie: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
EPA compliance records for Erie tell a largely clear story: violation rates are low, health-based exceedances are uncommon, and the city's grade puts it well above average within PA.
How Erie Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Erie, PA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Erie's 12 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Erie Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 73 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0011 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,300 per household.
Erie's Water Providers
Residential water in Erie, PA is supplied by 3 separate utilities - not one centralized authority. Each of those providers operates under its own service territory boundary, maintains its own distribution infrastructure, and files compliance documentation with the EPA on its own timeline. Federal data counts 7 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
- B
- B
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 28 ZIP codes in Erie, Pennsylvania, covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 179,893 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 14 of 28 ZIP codes.
14 of 14 ZIP codes 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 Erie: B (74/100)
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
Erie water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0011 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 14 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 1 ZIP code
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 27 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 75 | 14 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 60 | 14 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 53 | 14 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 23 | 14 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 22 | 14 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16505 | C | 48 | 0 | Erie City Water Authority |
| 16506 | C | 47 | 1 | Erie City Water Authority |
| 16509 | B | 20 | 0 | Erie City Water Authority |
| 16501 | B | 16 | 0 | Erie City Water Authority |
| 16502 | B | 16 | 0 | Erie City Water Authority |
| 16503 | D | 16 | 0 | Erie City Water Authority |
| 16504 | B | 16 | 0 | Erie City Water Authority |
| 16507 | B | 16 | 0 | Erie City Water Authority |
| 16508 | B | 16 | 0 | Erie City Water Authority |
| 16510 | B | 16 | 0 | Erie City Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Erie
- 16501 [B] - 16 violations
- 16502 [B] - 16 violations
- 16503 [D] - 16 violations
- 16504 [B] - 16 violations
- 16505 [C] - 48 violations
- 16506 [C] - 47 violations ⚠
- 16507 [B] - 16 violations
- 16508 [B] - 16 violations
- 16509 [B] - 20 violations
- 16510 [B] - 16 violations
- 16511 [B] - 16 violations
- 16512
- 16514
- 16515
- 16522
- 16530
- 16531
- 16532
- 16533
- 16534
- 16538
- 16541
- 16544
- 16546 - 16 violations
- 16550 - 16 violations
- 16553
- 16563 [B] - 16 violations
- 16565
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 Erie's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Erie
When remediation costs are measured against Erie home values, the resulting ratio is in the low tier - addressing documented water and safety issues here claims only a minor fraction of typical equity, and most homeowners are in a position where the financial commitment is straightforward rather than a material burden on their household budget.
Remediation costs in Erie are relatively low compared to home values. The $550–$2,286 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 26% below the Pennsylvania average.
Erie: 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.
Lead risk in Erie appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. 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.
Erie: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Erie contains 230 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $18,396. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 46% 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>$1,300</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Erie, PA