Lancaster, PA: 4 Health Violations - Home Safety 45/100
12 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Lancaster: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
Low marks: Lancaster, PA sits below the midpoint of the ZipCheckup grade scale.
How Lancaster Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Lancaster Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 23 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0077 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $875 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Lancaster
Federal records list 6 water systems tied to Lancaster, PA. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 12 ZIP codes in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 174,938 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 12 ZIP codes.
3 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Lancaster: D (45/100)
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
Lancaster water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0077 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
12 of 12 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 3 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 11 | 2 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 3 |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 7 | 2 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17601 | D | 22 | 4 | City of Lancaster |
| 17603 | D | 11 | 2 | City of Lancaster |
| 17602 | D | 4 | 1 | City of Lancaster |
All ZIP Codes in Lancaster
- 17573
- 17601 [D] - 22 violations ⚠
- 17602 [D] - 4 violations ⚠
- 17603 [D] - 11 violations ⚠
- 17604
- 17605
- 17606
- 17607
- 17608
- 17611
- 17622
- 17699
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 Lancaster Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Lancaster Homeowners
This section sets two area figures side by side for Lancaster: the median home value and an estimated remediation cost. Here the estimate equals no more than 1% of that value, which places the city in the low tier; it is an area estimate, and the cost for any one property can be higher or lower.
Estimated remediation costs in Lancaster can be compared with local home values. The $525–$1,475 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 17% above the Pennsylvania average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Lancaster
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Available area-level lead records for Lancaster do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. 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.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Lancaster
Historical NFIP data for Lancaster contains 578 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $17,109. 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 $875 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 Lancaster
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Surface Water Treatment Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Lancaster: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Lancaster, PA