Swarthmore, PA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 40/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Swarthmore: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
The composite Home Safety grade for Swarthmore, PA lands at the lower end of the scale; it summarizes data for the area and is not a reading from any home's tap.
How Swarthmore Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Swarthmore Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 30 violations since 2021.
- Homes built before 1986: 96% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $900 per household.
Water Systems Serving Swarthmore
Federal drinking water data connect ZIP codes in Swarthmore, PA to a count of 1 system, and the list on this page shows one of them. A listing reflects that link, not proof of which system serves a given street.
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania (population ~10,363), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 822,600 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Swarthmore: D (40/100)
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
Swarthmore water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: reported as 0 mg/L (a reported 0 is not proof of no lead; check the source record for its reporting limit) (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Cadmium | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Chromium | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19081 | D | 30 | 1 | Aqua Pa Main System |
All ZIP Codes in Swarthmore
- 19081 [D] - 30 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.
Key Contaminants Detected in Swarthmore
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Swarthmore's Housing Stock?
With 96% 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
Renovation history matters as much as age: in Swarthmore, with a median build year of 1955, some older homes have been replumbed and some have not.
Over half of homes in Swarthmore 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.
Swarthmore: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Measured against the median home value, the estimated cost of fixing the issues flagged for Swarthmore lands in the lowest of the three tiers this page uses.
Estimated remediation costs in Swarthmore can be compared with local home values. The $550–$1,400 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 56% above the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Swarthmore
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.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Swarthmore
Historical NFIP data for Swarthmore contains 31 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $9,285. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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 $900 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 Swarthmore
- 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 Arsenic, listed in the water-quality records for Swarthmore: 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 96% 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 Swarthmore, PA