Tarentum, PA: Lead Above EPA Action Level - Home Safety 42/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Tarentum: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (14 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Tarentum, PA: low grade band.
How Tarentum Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Tarentum Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 45 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.02 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
- Homes built before 1986: 81% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $5,960 per household.
Tarentum's Water Providers
Among 5 systems linked to Tarentum, PA, the 3 biggest by population served appear below.
- 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 of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 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
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 24 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 14 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 12 | 1 |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 12 | 1 |
| Interim Enhanced Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 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. 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
Some homes in Tarentum predate the 1986 federal restrictions on lead in new pipe and solder, so a tap test is a reasonable step for older homes; median build year: 1941.
Over half of homes in Tarentum 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 Tarentum
What does the elevated remediation share mean for Tarentum homeowners financially? A serious commitment - one that calls for structured planning rather than an ad-hoc response.
Estimated remediation costs in Tarentum equal about 5.3% of the median home value; how much that burdens a household depends on its finances. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $3,840–$8,780. Home values here are 48% below the Pennsylvania average.
Tarentum: 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.
Test the tap in Tarentum. Reported 90th-percentile lead results from water systems, averaged over its ZIP codes, exceed 15 parts per billion, and pre-1986 homes make up 81%.
1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA 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 $5,960 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. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
- Install a certified water filter. For Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), listed in the water-quality records for Tarentum: 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 81% 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 Tarentum, PA