Millsboro, PA: 12 Health Violations - Home Safety 68/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Millsboro: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (12 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Drilling into federal monitoring figures for Millsboro in PA, the pattern is middle-of-the-road - some utilities have documented MCL exceedances or treatment technique violations in recent years, while others have operated without a single flag, making the city's grade a genuine average rather than a rounded-down high.
How Millsboro Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Millsboro Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 21 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0008 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 99% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
Millsboro's Water Providers
For most households in Millsboro, PA, tap water comes from one provider - the utility that controls the local distribution system out of 1 tracked in federal record.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Millsboro, Pennsylvania (population ~88), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 10,100 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. 12 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Millsboro: C (68/100)
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
Millsboro water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0008 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 16 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 10 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2274 | Other | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15348 | C | 21 | 12 | Tri Cnty Jt Muni Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Millsboro
- 15348 [C] - 21 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.
What's in Millsboro's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Millsboro Infrastructure Age
With 99% 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
Reading the housing age data for Millsboro - median build year 1942 - the overriding implication is that the plumbing materials inside a typical home here reflect pre-1986 construction standards. In practical terms, that means lead-soldered copper joints are common across much of the housing stock. Where those materials are present, water can leach lead as it moves through joints - a pathway that corrosion control treatment under federal rules is designed to reduce, though it cannot eliminate lead risk where the plumbing materials themselves contain lead.
Over half of homes in Millsboro 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.
Millsboro: 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.
Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 99% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Millsboro.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Millsboro: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Millsboro contains 25 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $32,555. 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>$2,200</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 Millsboro
- 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 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Millsboro's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 99% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Millsboro, PA