Northern Cambria, PA: 109 Violations - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Northern Cambria: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
For most households in Northern Cambria, PA tap water is adequate - the middle-tier grade reflects gaps in specific service areas.
How Northern Cambria Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Northern Cambria Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 109 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0064 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 88% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Northern Cambria
Northern Cambria, PA draws its residential water from 3 separate providers among the 3 federally tracked systems. Each operates independently, with its own infrastructure, rate structure, and compliance record.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Northern Cambria, Pennsylvania (population ~5,215), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 22,432 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 Northern Cambria: C (67/100)
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
Northern Cambria water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0064 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barium | Inorganic | 12 | 1 |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 10 | 1 |
| Chromium | Inorganic | 10 | 1 |
| Fluoride | Inorganic | 10 | 1 |
| Selenium | Inorganic | 10 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15714 | C | 109 | 0 | Northern Cambria Muni Water |
All ZIP Codes in Northern Cambria
- 15714 [C] - 109 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.
Top Contaminants in Northern Cambria Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Northern Cambria
With 88% 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
For residents trying to assess tap water risk in Northern Cambria, the median build year of 1954 is the starting context. It signals that a majority of homes were constructed before 1986 - the year federal rules prohibited lead solder in new plumbing - and that a significant share likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still a common choice for residential service connections. Neither risk tier is rare in this housing inventory.
Over half of homes in Northern Cambria 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Northern Cambria Homeowners
Is remediation financially manageable for Northern Cambria homeowners? At a moderate equity share, generally yes - with deliberate budgeting ahead of time.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Northern Cambria. The estimated $800–$2,600 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 56% below the Pennsylvania average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Northern Cambria
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.
88% of Northern Cambria housing dates to the pre-rule era, alongside aggregate readings hovering at the federal action mark - household-level confirmation through a draw-test kit fits the local picture.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Northern Cambria
Historical NFIP data for Northern Cambria contains 34 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $10,199. 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>$1,600</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 Northern Cambria
- 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 Barium can reduce the most common contaminant found in Northern Cambria's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 88% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Northern Cambria, PA