Garnet Valley, PA: 1 Violation - Home Safety 50/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Garnet Valley: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Unlike better-scoring cities in PA, Garnet Valley records health-based violations across a meaningful portion of its service areas - the overall safety grade is well below average.
How Garnet Valley Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Garnet Valley Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 1 violation in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0048 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 35% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
Garnet Valley's Water Providers
Multiple utilities divide Garnet Valley, PA's water service - 2 leading providers among 2 on the federal register.
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania (population ~11,476), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 148,246 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Garnet Valley: D (50/100)
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
Garnet Valley water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0048 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 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19060 | D | 1 | 0 | Chester Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Garnet Valley
- 19060 [D] - 1 violation
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 Garnet Valley's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Garnet Valley Infrastructure Age
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Roughly balanced between older and newer construction, Garnet Valley shows a median build year of 1995 - a mid-range figure that places meaningful amounts of the residential inventory on both sides of the 1986 federal plumbing-solder ban.
Most homes in Garnet Valley were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Garnet Valley
For most homeowners in Garnet Valley, the estimated cost of water and safety remediation represents a proportionally modest share of what properties are worth - placing this area in the lower tier of the remediation share scale.
Remediation costs in Garnet Valley are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,000–$4,100 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 142% above the Pennsylvania average.
Garnet Valley: 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.
Despite citywide averages serving as the standard public reference point, those aggregates cannot resolve what is happening at one specific faucet - and where 35% of Garnet Valley homes come from before the solder rule or where utility samples sit at or above the action mark, the gap between system data and faucet reality matters more than it does in lower-exposure communities. An in-home draw closes that gap, with certified filtration through retailer networks available where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Garnet Valley: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Garnet Valley contains 13 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $10,876. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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>$3,000</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 Garnet Valley
- 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 Consumer Confidence Report Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Garnet Valley's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 35% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Garnet Valley, PA