Harrisburg, PA: 10 Violations - Home Safety 59/100
26 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Harrisburg: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Public water data for Harrisburg, PA reveals a split picture - tap water quality varies meaningfully by service area and the city's grade reflects that variability.
How Harrisburg Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Harrisburg, PA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Harrisburg's 10 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Harrisburg Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 10 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0014 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,865 per household.
Harrisburg's Water Providers
Residential water service in Harrisburg, PA is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 4 systems on file with federal regulators.
- C
- C
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 26 ZIP codes in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 183,427 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 10 of 26 ZIP codes.
10 of 10 ZIP codes 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 Harrisburg: C (59/100)
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
Harrisburg water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0014 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 10 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 26 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
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 | 21 | 10 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 15 | 10 |
| Contaminant 2063 | Other | 9 | 8 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 9 | 8 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 9 | 8 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17104 | C | 10 | 0 | Capital Region Water |
| 17109 | D | 10 | 0 | Veolia Water |
| 17110 | C | 10 | 0 | Veolia Water |
| 17111 | D | 10 | 0 | Veolia Water |
| 17101 | C | 7 | 0 | Capital Region Water |
| 17102 | C | 7 | 0 | Capital Region Water |
| 17103 | C | 7 | 0 | Capital Region Water |
| 17120 | C | 7 | 0 | Capital Region Water |
| 17112 | D | 3 | 0 | Veolia Water |
| 17113 | C | 3 | 0 | Pa American Water Steelton |
All ZIP Codes in Harrisburg
- 17101 [C] - 7 violations
- 17102 [C] - 7 violations
- 17103 [C] - 7 violations
- 17104 [C] - 10 violations
- 17105
- 17106
- 17107
- 17108
- 17109 [D] - 10 violations
- 17110 [C] - 10 violations
- 17111 [D] - 10 violations
- 17112 [D] - 3 violations
- 17113 [C] - 3 violations
- 17120 [C] - 7 violations
- 17121
- 17122
- 17123
- 17124
- 17125
- 17126
- 17127
- 17128
- 17129
- 17130
- 17140
- 17177
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 Harrisburg's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Harrisburg
Placing remediation in the context of Harrisburg's property market, the equity share is low - most homeowners here are weighing a financial commitment that fits comfortably within routine property planning, far from the threshold where remediation becomes a material equity decision rather than a standard upkeep consideration.
Remediation costs in Harrisburg are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,242–$2,469 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 5% below the Pennsylvania average.
Harrisburg: 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.
Lead risk in Harrisburg appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Harrisburg: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Harrisburg contains 3,117 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $15,715. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 91% 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>$1,865</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 Harrisburg
- 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 Harrisburg's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Harrisburg, PA