Girardville, PA: High Radon Risk — 45/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-04
Girardville, PA water systems: poor compliance record, lower-tier safety grade.
How Girardville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
What You Should Know About Girardville Water
- Homes built before 1986: 97% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,900 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Girardville
Residential water service in Girardville, PA is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 4 systems on file with federal regulators.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Girardville, Pennsylvania (population ~1,359), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 62,283 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Girardville — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Girardville: D (45/100)
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
Girardville water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Girardville
- 0 ZIP codes 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.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17935 | D | ASHLAND AREA WATER AUTHORITY | 4,200 |
All ZIP Codes in Girardville
- 17935 [D]
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.
Housing & Infrastructure in Girardville
With 97% 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
Two dates define the high-risk tiers of residential plumbing from a lead standpoint: 1970, before which lead pipes were commonly installed for service connections, and 1986, before which lead solder was standard in copper plumbing. A median build year of 1903 places Girardville's housing distribution well within that older risk zone. The bar chart above breaks down how much of the stock falls into each era — and the pre-1986 share alone represents more than half the residential inventory, making plumbing-era risk a defining characteristic of the local water safety picture.
Over half of homes in Girardville 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Girardville Homeowners
The cost-to-equity ratio for remediation in Girardville is elevated — the financial planning challenge here is real and significant.
At 6.5% of home value, remediation costs in Girardville represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $1,900–$4,100. Home values here are 79% below the Pennsylvania average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Girardville
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.
Although utility-side compliance with federal Lead and Copper requirements remains the system reference, that compliance does not extend down into interior plumbing. With 97% of Girardville stock built before the solder ban and aggregate readings at or beyond the action mark, a household-level sample becomes the practical way to close that information gap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Girardville
A moderate NFIP record for Girardville — 28 insurance claims paired with 100% of ZIP codes in FEMA flood zones — points to a flood history where water-quality pathways have likely been periodically relevant.
Girardville has a moderate flood history with 28 FEMA claims averaging $4,350 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>$2,900</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 Girardville
- 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 97% 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 Girardville, PA