Essington, PA Water Safety: 60/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Within Essington, water safety data for PA reveals moderate quality — federal standards are generally met, but documented exceptions exist in specific service areas.
How Essington Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Essington Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 90% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
Water Systems Serving Essington
With 2 utilities splitting service in Essington, PA, water accountability is distributed across 2 systems on the federal record.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Essington, Pennsylvania (population ~3,970), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 2,422,600 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Essington — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Essington: C (60/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Essington water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Essington
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19029 | C | Aqua Pa Main System | 822,600 |
All ZIP Codes in Essington
- 19029 [C]
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
Updated daily.
How Old Is Essington's Housing Stock?
With 90% 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
Pre-1986 plumbing is not a rare legacy case in Essington — it's the dominant profile. The median build year of 1954 indicates a housing stock where lead-soldered copper joints are a common structural feature of residences across the city.
Over half of homes in Essington 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.
Essington: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Across Essington, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small — a favorable ratio for most property owners.
Remediation costs in Essington are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 13% below the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Essington
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.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Essington have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 90% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Essington
How does Essington's flood record connect to local water quality? The NFIP documents 90 claims — enough to signal recurring events — and 100% of ZIP codes carry FEMA flood zone status. That combination places flooding in the category of factors that can periodically affect water infrastructure, even if the area isn't among the highest-exposure communities in the NFIP dataset.
Essington has a moderate flood history with 90 FEMA claims averaging $7,685 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,800</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Essington
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 90% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Essington, PA