Garards Fort, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Garards Fort: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (9 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Garards Fort earns a C grade for PA; check the EPA record for the system that serves your address.
How Garards Fort Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Garards Fort Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 83 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0018 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 83% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
Garards Fort's Water Providers
Listed supplier for Garards Fort, PA: one system, of 1 on federal record.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Garards Fort, Pennsylvania (population ~308), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 4,200 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. 9 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Garards Fort: C (67/100)
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
Garards Fort water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0018 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
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 2.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 52 | 1 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 20 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 14 | 1 |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 10 | 1 |
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15334 | C | 83 | 9 | Pa American Dilliner System |
All ZIP Codes in Garards Fort
- 15334 [C] - 83 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.
What's in Garards Fort's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Garards Fort Infrastructure Age
With 83% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Median construction year in Garards Fort: 1976, set against the 1986 federal lead limits for new plumbing.
Over half of homes in Garards Fort were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Garards Fort
How large is the remediation estimate next to home prices in Garards Fort? Small in relative terms: it amounts to 1% of the median value or less, although the dollar figure below is still an estimate and actual costs vary by property and contractor.
Estimated remediation costs in Garards Fort can be compared with local home values. The $300–$1,500 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 3% above the Pennsylvania average.
Garards Fort: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
What You Can Do in Garards Fort
- 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 Public Notice Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Garards Fort: 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. With 83% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Garards Fort, PA