Telford, PA: 22 Violations - Home Safety 43/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Telford: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
For households across Telford, below-average water safety data and recurring compliance violations documented by PA EPA records make it worthwhile to verify the specific system serving your address - system-level detail is the most actionable reference point available.
How Telford Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Telford Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 22 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 66% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
Water Systems Serving Telford
Water delivery in Telford, PA is handled by 3 utilities rather than a single system - drawn from 3 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Telford, Pennsylvania (population ~15,229), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 105,411 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.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Telford: D (43/100)
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
Telford water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0030 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 6 | 1 |
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 6 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 6 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18969 | D | 22 | 0 | Telford Borough Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Telford
- 18969 [D] - 22 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 Telford
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Telford's Housing Stock?
With 66% 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 1974, as in Telford, 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 Telford 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.
Telford: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Across Telford, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small - a favorable ratio for most property owners.
Remediation costs in Telford are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,000–$4,100 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 71% above the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Telford
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.
When older housing represents 66% of the local inventory or aggregate readings approach the federal action level, an in-home check becomes the standard way to translate citywide averages into the specific reality of an individual Telford address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Telford
Historical NFIP data for Telford contains 5 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $6,674. 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>$3,000</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 Telford
- 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. Filters rated for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Telford's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 66% 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 Telford, PA