Torrance, PA: 21 Violations - Home Safety 43/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Torrance: 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 →
Within Torrance, water quality data indicates below-average safety by PA standards - independent testing is a reasonable precaution for residents whose systems show active violations.
How Torrance Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Torrance Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 21 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0064 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 91% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
Torrance's Water Providers
Multiple utilities divide Torrance, PA's water service - 2 leading providers among 2 on the federal register.
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Torrance, Pennsylvania (population ~575), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 22,500 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 Torrance: 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
Torrance water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0064 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 4 | 1 |
| Radium-226 | Radionuclides | 4 | 1 |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15779 | D | 21 | 0 | Derry Boro Muni Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Torrance
- 15779 [D] - 21 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 Torrance's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Torrance Infrastructure Age
With 91% 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
The character of Torrance's housing stock is one of deep historical layering - a median build year of 1945 signals a city built largely before the plumbing era changes of 1986 and 1970. Lead-soldered copper joints and, in the oldest properties, lead service lines are commonly present in this inventory. That context shapes what individual water testing may reveal, particularly in neighborhoods where the oldest housing is concentrated.
Over half of homes in Torrance 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 Torrance
Looking at how documented remediation costs fit within Torrance property values, the equity share lands in the moderate tier - a finding that positions the household financial perspective between routine maintenance and a significant budget commitment, where most homeowners can successfully address documented issues by treating the expense as a planned financial priority rather than an unexpected one.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Torrance. The estimated $1,200–$2,300 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 17% below the Pennsylvania average.
Torrance: 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.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Torrance have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 91% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
What You Can Do in Torrance
- 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 Chlorite can reduce the most common contaminant found in Torrance's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 91% 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 Torrance, PA