Indiana, PA: Lead Above EPA Limits - Home Safety 61/100
2 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Indiana: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Indiana's water quality grade in PA reflects a middle-ground assessment - service areas range from fully compliant to violation-flagged in current EPA records.
How Indiana Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Indiana Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 49 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0101 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
Indiana's Water Providers
At present, 3 utilities serve the bulk of Indiana, PA's residential water connections out of 5 systems active in the area, spread across independent providers with separate infrastructure and compliance obligations.
- C
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Indiana, Pennsylvania (population ~34,306), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 53,801 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 2 ZIP codes.
1 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (50%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Indiana: C (61/100)
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
Indiana water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0101 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 of 2 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 1 |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 6 | 1 |
| Radium-226 | Radionuclides | 6 | 1 |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 6 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 6 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15701 | D | 49 | 0 | Pa American Water Company-indiana D |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15705 | C | Pa American Water Company-indiana D | 22,360 |
All ZIP Codes in Indiana
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 Indiana's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Indiana
The equity-to-remediation ratio in Indiana is moderate - worth planning for but within reach for most property owners.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Indiana. The estimated $1,200–$2,400 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 18% below the Pennsylvania average.
Indiana: 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 Indiana appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
<strong>1 ZIP code</strong> (50% of the city) exceeds the EPA lead action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Indiana: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Indiana contains 200 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $6,657. 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>$1,800</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 Indiana
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Lead testing is especially recommended given the area's lead levels.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Indiana'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 Indiana, PA