Tarentum, PA: Lead Above EPA Limits - Home Safety 42/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Tarentum: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (14 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Tarentum, PA water systems: poor compliance record, lower-tier safety grade.
How Tarentum Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Tarentum Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 45 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.02 mg/L - exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 81% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,200 per household.
Tarentum's Water Providers
3 independent water providers serve Tarentum, PA - 5 systems appear in federal records.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Tarentum, Pennsylvania (population ~9,884), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 113,427 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. 14 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Tarentum: D (42/100)
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
Tarentum water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0200 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 24 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 14 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 12 | 1 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 8 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15084 | D | 45 | 14 | Tarentum Boro Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Tarentum
- 15084 [D] - 45 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.
What's in Tarentum's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Tarentum Infrastructure Age
With 81% 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
When a city's housing median build year is 1941, as in Tarentum, the implication for water quality research is straightforward: municipal-level data captures what leaves the treatment plant, but household plumbing from before 1986 determines what actually arrives at the tap. In cities where older housing predominates, that gap between system-level and household-level data is widest.
Over half of homes in Tarentum 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 Tarentum
Across the Tarentum housing market, the estimated remediation share sits at an elevated level - the cost-to-value ratio here is high enough that addressing documented water and safety issues becomes a material equity decision rather than routine maintenance, and most homeowners benefit from treating it as a structured financial planning exercise.
At 2.9% of home value, remediation costs in Tarentum represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $2,050–$4,700. Home values here are 48% below the Pennsylvania average.
Tarentum: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Where 81% of housing predates the federal ban on lead-bearing solder and citywide utility samples sit beyond the regulatory benchmark - as both conditions hold for Tarentum - the practical question for families with kids is what arrives at the specific faucet they actually use, not what the citywide average reads. An in-home kit produces that household-specific answer, with certified filter hardware via retailer networks addressing confirmed exposure where it appears.
<strong>1 ZIP code</strong> (100% of the city) exceeds the EPA lead action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Tarentum: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Tarentum contains 120 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $14,810. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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>$3,200</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.
What You Can Do in Tarentum
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Lead testing is especially recommended given the area's lead levels.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Tarentum's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 81% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Tarentum, PA