Jessup, PA: High Radon Risk — 45/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Unlike better-scoring cities in PA, Jessup records health-based violations across a meaningful portion of its service areas — the overall safety grade is well below average.
How Jessup Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Jessup Water
- Homes built before 1986: 84% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Jessup
With 2 utilities splitting service in Jessup, PA, water accountability is distributed across 2 systems on the federal record.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Jessup, Pennsylvania (population ~4,019), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 134,804 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Jessup — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Jessup: 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
Jessup water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Jessup
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18434 | D | PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON | 134,570 |
All ZIP Codes in Jessup
- 18434 [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 Jessup
With 84% 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
The median home in Jessup was built in 1943 — a figure that places most of the city's residential stock in the era when lead solder was still standard in copper plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered joints; those built before 1970 face the additional possibility of lead pipes in the service line itself.
Over half of homes in Jessup 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 Jessup Homeowners
Looking at how documented remediation costs fit within Jessup property values, the equity share lands in the moderate tier — a finding that positions the household financial perspective between routine maintenance and a significant budget commitment, where most homeowners can successfully address documented issues by treating the expense as a planned financial priority rather than an unexpected one.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Jessup. The estimated $2,000–$4,100 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 23% below the Pennsylvania average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Jessup
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 84% of Jessup 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.
Flood & Climate Risk in Jessup
100% of ZIP codes in Jessup are mapped into FEMA-designated flood zones, and the NFIP records 17 claims reflecting a multi-event flood history. That combination places local flood exposure in the range where water-quality implications deserve at least periodic attention.
Jessup has a moderate flood history with 17 FEMA claims averaging $3,958 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>$3,000</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 Jessup
- 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 84% 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 Jessup, PA