Scranton, PA: High Radon Risk — 67/100 (2026)
13 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Within Scranton, water safety data for PA reveals moderate quality — federal standards are generally met, but documented exceptions exist in specific service areas.
How Scranton Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Scranton, PA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of water safety grades across Scranton.
Scranton Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.002 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 88% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,785 per household.
Water Systems Serving Scranton
Water delivery in Scranton, PA is handled by 3 utilities rather than a single system — drawn from 6 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 13 ZIP codes in Scranton, Pennsylvania (population ~100,734), covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 319,439 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Scranton — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Scranton: C (67/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Scranton water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0020 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 12 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 1 ZIP code
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18501 | B | Paw Ceasetown | 58,467 |
| 18502 | C | Paw Ceasetown | 58,467 |
| 18503 | B | PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON | 134,570 |
| 18504 | C | Paw Nesbitt | 52,640 |
| 18505 | C | PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON | 134,570 |
| 18508 | C | PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON | 134,570 |
| 18509 | C | PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON | 134,570 |
| 18510 | B | PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON | 134,570 |
| 18512 | B | PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON | 134,570 |
| 18515 | B | Paw Ceasetown | 58,467 |
All ZIP Codes in Scranton
- 18501 [B]
- 18502 [C]
- 18503 [B]
- 18504 [C]
- 18505 [C]
- 18508 [C]
- 18509 [C]
- 18510 [B]
- 18512 [B]
- 18515 [B]
- 18519 [C]
- 18540 [C]
- 18577 [C]
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
Updated daily.
How Old Is Scranton's Housing Stock?
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
Lead solder was standard in copper plumbing until federally banned in 1986; lead pipes were common in service lines pre-1970. Scranton's median build year of 1935 reflects a housing stock where these older materials are a pervasive feature — not a rare legacy — of the residential plumbing landscape.
Over half of homes in Scranton 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.
Scranton: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Property equity in Scranton sits at a moderate ratio to estimated remediation costs — a classification that reframes the household financial perspective from routine maintenance to deliberate budgeting, where most homeowners have a realistic path to addressing documented water and safety issues if they map the financial commitment against available resources before committing to scope.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Scranton. The estimated $1,877–$3,823 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 19% below the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Scranton
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.
Even where utility-side monitoring meets Lead and Copper Rule requirements, the 88% pre-rule share in Scranton keeps interior-plumbing variation as a household-level question that aggregate data cannot resolve.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Scranton
Flood risk in Scranton reaches a level where its interaction with water quality becomes a concrete planning concern rather than an abstract possibility. NFIP data records 876 claims, and 77% of the area's ZIP codes are within FEMA-designated flood zones. At this exposure level, the mechanisms connecting major flood events to water quality disruption — treatment overload, well contamination, distribution backflow — have likely been activated repeatedly over the multi-decade NFIP tracking window.
Scranton has a significant flood history with 876 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $52,882 per claim. With 77% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,785</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Scranton
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 88% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Scranton, PA