Waynesboro, PA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 50/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Waynesboro: D.
Federal records show several conditions worth reviewing.
Behind the low grade for Waynesboro, PA is an average of ZIP-level Home Safety Scores, a composite measure rather than a water test.
How Waynesboro Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Waynesboro Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 165 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0945 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: 61% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,960 per household.
Water Systems Serving Waynesboro
Multiple utilities show up for Waynesboro, PA: 3 are listed here out of 5 tracked federally.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania (population ~29,096), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 50,254 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Waynesboro: D (50/100)
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
Waynesboro water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0945 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 84 | 1 |
| Groundwater Rule | Treatment Technique | 22 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 20 | 1 |
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 18 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 16 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17268 | D | 165 | 1 | Boro of Waynesboro |
All ZIP Codes in Waynesboro
- 17268 [D] - 165 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 Waynesboro
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Waynesboro's Housing Stock?
With 61% 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
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Waynesboro has a median build year of 1974; houses completed ahead of 1986 can hold lead-bearing solder or fittings.
Over half of homes in Waynesboro 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.
Waynesboro: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The cost-to-value ratio for Waynesboro is moderate by this page's scale.
Estimated remediation costs in Waynesboro can be compared with local home values. The estimated $2,590–$5,480 range is a planning estimate; get a property-specific quote and check it against your budget. Home values are 6% above the Pennsylvania average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Waynesboro
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.
EPA advises using only cold water for drinking and cooking, a basic precaution for Waynesboro households, where the ZIP-code mean of utilities' 90th-percentile lead values tops 0.015 mg/L and 61% of housing predates 1986.
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.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Waynesboro
Historical NFIP data for Waynesboro contains 15 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $11,819. 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 $3,960 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 Waynesboro
- 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 Public Notice Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Waynesboro: 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 61% 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 Waynesboro, PA