Johnstown, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 67/100
8 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Johnstown: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (26 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
For most households in Johnstown, PA tap water is adequate - the middle-tier grade reflects gaps in specific service areas.
How Johnstown Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Johnstown, PA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Johnstown score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Johnstown Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 256 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.005 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 89% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,250 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Johnstown
With 3 utilities splitting service in Johnstown, PA, water accountability is distributed across 8 systems on the federal record.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Johnstown, Pennsylvania (population ~65,568), covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 109,668 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 6 of 8 ZIP codes.
6 of 6 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 26 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Johnstown: C (67/100)
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
Johnstown water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0050 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 6 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 8 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 | 59 | 6 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 57 | 6 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 51 | 5 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 46 | 6 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 45 | 6 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15904 | C | 201 | 4 | Highland S & W Authority Beaverdam |
| 15905 | C | 141 | 0 | Greater Johnstown Water Authority Riverside |
| 15909 | — | 108 | 22 | Greater Johnstown Water Authority Riverside |
| 15902 | C | 93 | 4 | Greater Johnstown Water Authority Riverside |
| 15906 | C | 93 | 14 | Greater Johnstown Water Authority Riverside |
| 15901 | C | 53 | 0 | Greater Johnstown Water Authority Riverside |
All ZIP Codes in Johnstown
- 15901 [C] - 53 violations
- 15902 [C] - 93 violations ⚠
- 15904 [C] - 201 violations ⚠
- 15905 [C] - 141 violations
- 15906 [C] - 93 violations ⚠
- 15907
- 15909 - 108 violations ⚠
- 15915
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.
Top Contaminants in Johnstown Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Johnstown
With 89% 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
Pre-1986 plumbing is not a rare legacy case in Johnstown - it's the dominant profile. The median build year of 1953 indicates a housing stock where lead-soldered copper joints are a common structural feature of residences across the city.
Over half of homes in Johnstown 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 Johnstown Homeowners
The Johnstown remediation share exceeds what lower-tier markets face - the cost-to-value ratio here is elevated, and the household financial perspective reflects a commitment that most homeowners need to plan for explicitly.
At 2.1% of home value, remediation costs in Johnstown represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $1,125–$4,163. Home values here are 51% below the Pennsylvania average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Johnstown
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.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Johnstown have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 89% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Johnstown
Historical NFIP data for Johnstown contains 580 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $5,970. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 57% 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>$2,250</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 Johnstown
- 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 Johnstown's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 89% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Johnstown, PA