Orrstown, PA: 22 Violations - Home Safety 62/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Orrstown: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
The C shown for Orrstown, PA is an average of Home Safety Scores across the city's ZIP codes; that composite blends several data sources, so it can move for reasons unrelated to water, and it is not a measurement of what comes out of any tap in the city.
How Orrstown Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Orrstown Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 22 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.001 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 66% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
Orrstown's Water Providers
One water system is listed below for Orrstown, PA; federal data link 1 to the area overall.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Orrstown, Pennsylvania (population ~2,305), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 17,800 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 Orrstown: C (62/100)
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
Orrstown water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0010 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | Organic | 6 | 1 |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Chlordane | Organic | 4 | 1 |
| Endrin | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| BHC-gamma (Lindane) | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17244 | C | 22 | 0 | Shippensburg Boro Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Orrstown
- 17244 [C] - 22 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 Orrstown's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Orrstown Infrastructure Age
With 66% 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
Plumbing risk in older housing is tied to the period before 1986, when lead pipes and lead solder were still permitted in new plumbing. Orrstown's median build year is 1975, and properties from before that year might still contain lead-bearing joints or pipes. Much of that risk sits inside individual properties, which city-level water quality averages don't capture.
Over half of homes in Orrstown 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.
Orrstown: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
What You Can Do in Orrstown
- 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 Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), listed in the water-quality records for Orrstown: 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 66% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Orrstown, PA