Richlandtown, PA - Home Safety Score unavailable
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Richlandtown Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 31 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0013 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 54% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
Who Supplies Your Water in Richlandtown
Water service in Richlandtown, PA is split across 3 utilities out of 3 tracked federally, each operating its own infrastructure and compliance record.
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Richlandtown, Pennsylvania (population ~1,453), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 21,050 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.
Water Sources
Richlandtown water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0013 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 2110 | Other | 26 | 1 |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 14 | 1 |
| Atrazine | Organic | 4 | 1 |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 4 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18955 | — | 31 | 0 | Richland Twp Water Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Richlandtown
- 18955 - 31 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 Richlandtown Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Richlandtown
With 54% 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
While newer cities carry lower aggregate plumbing risk from lead-era construction, Richlandtown sits firmly in the older category. The median build year of 1987 indicates that more than half the housing stock was built before 1986, when lead solder was still legally used in residential copper plumbing - and a substantial portion likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still commonly installed for service lines. These two thresholds together define the elevated plumbing risk environment that older housing cities carry, independent of what the municipal water supply delivers to the meter.
Over half of homes in Richlandtown 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 Richlandtown Homeowners
Remediation costs in Richlandtown are small relative to typical property values - the cost-to-value ratio here is favorable.
Remediation costs in Richlandtown are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 48% above the Pennsylvania average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Richlandtown
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.
Reading the local data together points toward a structural gap that matters more here than in low-exposure communities. 54% of Richlandtown stock comes from the pre-rule era, and citywide monitoring either approaches or sits beyond the federal benchmark under Lead and Copper Rule sampling. A baseline kit fits the routine-diligence category, with certified filtration available via retailer networks where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Richlandtown, PA