Reading, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 46/100
12 ZIP codes · 16 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Reading: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (5 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Reading, PA carries one of the two lowest composite grades on this site.
How Reading Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Reading, PA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Reading's 10 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Reading Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 67 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0021 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 79% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $864 per household.
Reading's Water Providers
Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 3 shown below do not apply to the others among the 16 tied to Reading, PA.
- D
- D
- D
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 of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 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
12 of 12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 22 | 6 |
| Groundwater Rule | Treatment Technique | 22 | 5 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 16 | 10 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 15 | 10 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 9 | 6 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19605 | F | 43 | 2 | Muhlenberg Twp Muni Authority |
| 19604 | F | 31 | 1 | Reading Area Water Authority |
| 19607 | D | 12 | 3 | Shillington Muni Authority |
| 19608 | D | 11 | 2 | Paw Penn District |
| 19601 | D | 10 | 1 | Reading Area Water Authority |
| 19606 | D | 10 | 1 | Paw Glen Alsace Div |
| 19610 | D | 10 | 3 | Wyomissing Boro Water System |
| 19609 | C | 7 | 2 | Paw Penn District |
| 19611 | D | 7 | 2 | Reading Area Water Authority |
| 19602 | D | 5 | 1 | Reading Area Water Authority |
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.
What's in Reading's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Reading Infrastructure Age
With 79% 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
By Census estimates, roughly half or more of the homes in Reading were built before 1986; the median build year is 1947.
Over half of homes in Reading 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Reading
Estimated remediation for Reading 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 Reading can be compared with local home values. The $500–$1,509 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 2% above the Pennsylvania average.
Reading: 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.
Reading: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
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 $864 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 Reading
- 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 Revised Total Coliform Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Reading: 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 79% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. If you use a community water system, request its annual Consumer Confidence Report for system-level test results or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Reading, PA