Vandergrift, PA: 14 Violations - Home Safety 62/100
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Vandergrift: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Vandergrift shows moderate tap water quality for PA - some areas carry documented EPA violations while others meet standards without issues.
How Vandergrift Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Vandergrift Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 14 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0035 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 92% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
Vandergrift's Water Providers
3 independent water providers serve Vandergrift, PA - 4 systems appear in federal records.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Vandergrift, Pennsylvania (population ~9,359), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 194,529 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 Vandergrift: C (62/100)
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
Vandergrift water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0035 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 4 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15690 | C | 14 | 0 | Mawc Sweeney Plant |
All ZIP Codes in Vandergrift
- 15690 [C] - 14 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 Vandergrift's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Vandergrift Infrastructure Age
With 92% 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
Heavily weighted toward older construction, Vandergrift's housing stock carries a median build year of 1941. That profile puts a majority of homes in the era when lead-soldered copper plumbing was standard practice.
Over half of homes in Vandergrift 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 Vandergrift
What does the elevated remediation share mean for Vandergrift homeowners financially? A serious commitment - one that calls for structured planning rather than an ad-hoc response.
At 2.1% of home value, remediation costs in Vandergrift represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $1,600–$3,300. Home values here are 47% below the Pennsylvania average.
Vandergrift: 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.
Older stock in Vandergrift represents 92% of the inventory, and citywide monitoring runs at or above the federal action level - making an in-home read a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Vandergrift: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Vandergrift contains 17 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $12,891. 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>$2,400</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 Vandergrift
- 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 Surface Water Treatment Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Vandergrift's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 92% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Vandergrift, PA