Vanderbilt, PA: 12 Violations - Home Safety 80/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Vanderbilt: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
The water systems supplying Vanderbilt show a track record of above-average compliance with federal standards - consistently among the better performers in PA.
How Vanderbilt Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Vanderbilt Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 12 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0022 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 66% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $400 per household.
Water Systems Serving Vanderbilt
Most residential addresses in Vanderbilt, PA are served by a single water utility - the dominant system among the 1 provider tracked in federal data.
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Vanderbilt, Pennsylvania (population ~2,127), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 35,409 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 Vanderbilt: B (80/100)
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
Vanderbilt water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0022 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 2 (Moderate 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 | 20 | 1 |
| Benzene | Organic | 2 | 1 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15486 | B | 12 | 0 | North Fayette Cnty Muni Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Vanderbilt
- 15486 [B] - 12 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 Vanderbilt
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Vanderbilt'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
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Vanderbilt is predominantly an older city - a median build year of 1976 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.
Over half of homes in Vanderbilt 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.
Vanderbilt: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Vanderbilt, documented water and safety issues can be addressed without making a meaningful dent in home equity - the financial proportionality here is favorable, and the commitment fits within standard property planning frameworks.
Remediation costs in Vanderbilt are relatively low compared to home values. The $0–$800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 28% below the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Vanderbilt
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.
Practically, the structural drivers in Vanderbilt - 66% pre-rule stock and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory benchmark - make an in-home draw the practical way to translate aggregate averages into the specific conditions at one address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Vanderbilt, PA