Mercer, PA: 6 Violations - Home Safety 81/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Mercer: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Within Mercer, PA, the available records add up to an upper-tier grade; that grade describes records, not the water at a given faucet.
How Mercer Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Mercer Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 6 violations since 2021.
- Homes built before 1986: 68% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
Water Systems Serving Mercer
Federal records list 2 water systems tied to Mercer, PA. Of those, 2 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Mercer, Pennsylvania (population ~12,327), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 49,600 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code 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 Mercer: B (81/100)
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
Mercer water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: reported as 0 mg/L (a reported 0 is not proof of no lead; check the source record for its reporting limit) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 2.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Chlorine dioxide | Disinfectant | 2 | 1 |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
| Groundwater Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16137 | B | 6 | 0 | Aqua Pa Shenango Valley Wtp |
All ZIP Codes in Mercer
- 16137 [B] - 6 violations
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.
Key Contaminants Detected in Mercer
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Mercer's Housing Stock?
With 68% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
By Census estimates, roughly half or more of the homes in Mercer were built before 1986; the median build year is 1974.
Over half of homes in Mercer were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Mercer: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Low tier for Mercer: remediation estimated at up to 1% of what homes are worth.
Estimated remediation costs in Mercer can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 17% below the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Mercer
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.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Mercer
Historical NFIP data for Mercer contains 7 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $14,499. 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 $500 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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Mercer, PA