Monaca, PA: Lead Above EPA Action Level - Home Safety 33/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Monaca: F.
Lowest grade in federal records; check your home directly.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
A low grade for Monaca, PA is a reason to open the report for your ZIP code and see which factors pull the score down.
How Monaca Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Monaca Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 46 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0335 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
- Homes built before 1986: 81% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $6,060 per household.
Water Systems Serving Monaca
3 systems shown for Monaca, PA, from 3 on the federal list.
- F
- F
- F
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Monaca, Pennsylvania (population ~12,523), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 41,185 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. 4 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Monaca: F (33/100)
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
Monaca water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0335 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 16 | 1 |
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Groundwater Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 6 | 1 |
| Gross Alpha (excl. radon and uranium) | Radionuclides | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15061 | F | 46 | 4 | Center Twp Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Monaca
- 15061 [F] - 46 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 Monaca
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Monaca's Housing Stock?
With 81% 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
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Monaca has a median build year of 1969; houses completed ahead of 1986 can hold lead-bearing solder or fittings.
Over half of homes in Monaca 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.
Monaca: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Two area figures drive this section for Monaca: the median home value and the estimated cost of remediation. The estimate is more than 2% of that value, which puts the city in the elevated tier; since both figures describe the area as a whole, the cost for an individual property may be higher or lower.
Estimated remediation costs in Monaca equal about 3.0% of the median home value; how much that burdens a household depends on its finances. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $3,940–$8,780. Home values here are 7% below the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Monaca
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.
Several steps are open to Monaca households. Area lead results, averaged by ZIP code, run higher than 0.015 mg/L, while 81% of homes date from before 1986. A certified laboratory test measures lead at the tap, the utility's service line inventory shows how a home's line is classified, and a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction can be used for drinking and cooking water while results are pending.
1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Monaca
Historical NFIP data for Monaca contains 25 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $5,002. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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 $6,060 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 Monaca
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
- Install a certified water filter. For Revised Total Coliform Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Monaca: 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. With 81% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- 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 Monaca, PA