Northampton, PA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 63/100
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Northampton: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Compared to top-scoring cities in PA, Northampton lands in the middle tier - some water systems meet standards cleanly, others carry documented violations, and performance can vary significantly across service areas.
How Northampton Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Northampton Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 9 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 69% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
Northampton's Water Providers
Throughout Northampton, PA, water comes from one of 3 primary utilities out of 4 total systems - independent providers with different rate structures, infrastructure, and compliance records that vary across the service territory.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Northampton, Pennsylvania (population ~19,490), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 158,244 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Northampton: 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
Northampton water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 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 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18067 | C | 9 | 1 | Northampton Boro Muni Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Northampton
- 18067 [C] - 9 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 Northampton's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Northampton Infrastructure Age
With 69% 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
Pre-1986 plumbing is not a rare legacy case in Northampton - it's the dominant profile. The median build year of 1963 indicates a housing stock where lead-soldered copper joints are a common structural feature of residences across the city.
Over half of homes in Northampton 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Northampton
Given current Northampton valuations, the remediation-to-property-value ratio is low - most homeowners are looking at a proportionally modest share that fits within routine financial planning.
Remediation costs in Northampton are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,600–$3,300 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 24% above the Pennsylvania average.
Northampton: 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.
Confirming what arrives at a specific faucet is something utility-side averages cannot do. With 69% of Northampton stock built before the lead-solder ban and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory mark, a tap-level kit fits the standard diligence picture.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Northampton: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Northampton contains 27 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $9,970. 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 <strong>$2,400</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 Northampton
- 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 Chlorite can reduce the most common contaminant found in Northampton's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 69% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Northampton, PA