New Kensington, PA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 63/100
2 ZIP codes · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for New Kensington: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
New Kensington, PA: a C, mid-scale.
How New Kensington Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
New Kensington Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 9 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0037 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $300 per household.
Water Systems Serving New Kensington
Multiple utilities show up for New Kensington, PA: 3 are listed here out of 3 tracked federally.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in New Kensington, Pennsylvania (population ~36,068), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 218,300 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 2 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for New Kensington: C (63/100)
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
New Kensington water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0037 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
2 of 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15068 | C | 9 | 1 | New Kensington Muni Authority |
All ZIP Codes in New Kensington
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 New Kensington
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
New Kensington: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Estimated remediation for New Kensington is a small fraction of median property value - one percent or less - though the ratio does not describe any single household.
Estimated remediation costs in New Kensington can be compared with local home values. The $150–$600 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 22% below the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in New Kensington
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 New Kensington 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 Flood-Claim Evidence for New Kensington
Historical NFIP data for New Kensington contains 114 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $11,884. 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 $300 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 New Kensington
- 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 Total organic carbon, listed in the water-quality records for New Kensington: 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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for New Kensington, PA