Reading's water safety record falls below average in PA - compliance violations span multiple service areas, and several systems have recorded exceedances that trigger federal notification requirements under the Safe Drinking Water Act.

Data: EPA SDWIS

Water Quality Map: Reading, PA

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Overview

We track home safety data for 12 ZIP codes in Reading, Pennsylvania, covering 16 community water systems serving approximately 226,637 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 10 of 12 ZIP codes.

10 of 10 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 5 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Reading: D (46/100)

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

Reading water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

• Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0021 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
• 0 of 10 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)

• Zone 1 (High): 12 ZIP codes
• Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
• Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Top Contaminants

Areas with Most Violations

All ZIP Codes in Reading

• 19601 [D] - 10 violations ⚠
• 19602 [D] - 5 violations ⚠
• 19603
• 19604 [F] - 31 violations ⚠
• 19605 [F] - 43 violations ⚠
• 19606 [D] - 10 violations ⚠
• 19607 [D] - 12 violations ⚠
• 19608 [D] - 11 violations ⚠
• 19609 [C] - 7 violations ⚠
• 19610 [D] - 10 violations ⚠
• 19611 [D] - 7 violations ⚠
• 19612

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.

Housing Age Profile

Plumbing risk in older housing is defined by two eras: the pre-1970 period when lead pipes were commonly used for service lines, and the 1970-to-1986 period when lead solder remained standard in copper plumbing until the federal ban. Reading's median build year of 1947 lands in a range where both eras are heavily represented in the housing stock. That creates an elevated aggregate environment for plumbing-related lead exposure - one that city-level water quality averages don't capture, because the risk sits inside individual properties rather than in the distribution system.

1947

Median Year Built

79%

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

51%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Pre-1970 (51%) 1970–1986 (28%) Post-1986 (21%)

Over half of homes in Reading 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 Reading

How does remediation fit within the broader financial picture for Reading homeowners? The equity share is moderate - large enough that treating it as a real planning consideration makes sense, and manageable enough that most homeowners have a clear path to addressing documented water and safety issues when they approach the commitment with deliberate advance budgeting rather than as an unplanned expense.

Median Home Value

$218,500

Est. Remediation

$3,458

Remediation as % of home value 1.6%

Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Reading. The estimated $2,275–$4,967 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 2% above the Pennsylvania average.

Reading: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

79%

Homes Built Before 1986

0.0021

mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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.

In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Reading have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 79% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Reading: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

466

Total FEMA Flood Claims

$31,035

Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data

45%

A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Reading contains 466 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $31,035. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 45% 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>$3,458</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.