Fairchance, PA: 2 Health Violations - Home Safety 68/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Fairchance: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Fairchance water quality is uneven - some service areas show clean compliance; others carry documented violations in PA EPA records.
How Fairchance Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Fairchance Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 42 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0022 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 72% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,900 per household.
Water Systems Serving Fairchance
Fairchance, PA is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 3 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.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Fairchance, Pennsylvania (population ~2,006), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 79,465 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. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Fairchance: C (68/100)
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
Fairchance water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0022 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 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 20 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 8 | 1 |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 8 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15436 | C | 42 | 2 | North Fayette Cnty Muni Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Fairchance
- 15436 [C] - 42 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 Fairchance
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Fairchance's Housing Stock?
With 72% 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
Because the majority of Fairchance's housing predates 1986, when lead solder was banned from new plumbing, the median build year of 1968 reflects a city where lead-era plumbing materials are common rather than exceptional.
Over half of homes in Fairchance 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.
Fairchance: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Viewed from a financial planning lens, Fairchance 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 Fairchance. The estimated $950–$3,200 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 37% below the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Fairchance
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 Fairchance, where 72% 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.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Fairchance
Historical NFIP data for Fairchance contains 5 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $1,335. 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>$1,900</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 Fairchance
- 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 Chlorite can reduce the most common contaminant found in Fairchance's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 72% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Fairchance, PA