Exceeds EPA Limit Lead EXCEEDS EPA LIMIT

Lead in Palmerton, PA Drinking Water

Lead data for Palmerton, Pennsylvania · 11,047 residents · 1 ZIP code

ZipCheckup's reading of Lead in Palmerton, Pennsylvania: the highest detected level is 83.4 ppb; the EPA limit is 15 ppb (action level). Lead carries a high health-risk designation.

Federal water monitoring extends to thousands of public water systems, and in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, that tracking has turned up Lead - the detection is logged in the EPA compliance record and reflects samples collected under routine Safe Drinking Water Act reporting requirements.

83.4 ppb
Max Level Detected
83.4 ppb
Average Level
15 ppb (action level)
EPA action level
High
Health Risk
Reverse Osmosis or NSF 53 Carbon Block
Best Filter Method

Data: EPA SDWIS, CCR Reports, ECHO

Lead in Palmerton Tap Water

Lead has been detected in Palmerton, Pennsylvania drinking water at a normalized maximum level of 83.4 ppb - 5.56x the EPA action level.

This analysis covers 11,047 residents across 1 ZIP code in Palmerton.

Is Lead in Palmerton Water Safe?

Lead levels in parts of Palmerton exceed the EPA action level of 15 ppb (action level). The EPA requires water systems to take corrective action when this limit is exceeded.

If you live in an affected ZIP code, consider installing a reverse osmosis or nsf 53 carbon block filter certified under NSF 53 / NSF 58 and testing your water independently.

Lead Levels by ZIP Code

ZIP Code Lead Level EPA Limit Status
18071 83.4 ppb 15 ppb (action level) Exceeds limit

Average lead level across Palmerton: 83.4 ppb

Health Effects of Lead

  • Brain development delays and reduced IQ in children
  • Behavioral problems and learning disabilities
  • High blood pressure and kidney damage in adults
  • Increased risk of premature birth in pregnant women

Health risk severity: High. Governed by the Lead and Copper Rule Revisions (LCRR/LCRI).

How Lead Gets Into Drinking Water

  • Corrosion of lead service lines (pipes connecting water main to home)
  • Lead solder in copper plumbing joints (pre-1986 homes)
  • Brass fixtures and faucets manufactured before 2014
  • Stagnant water that sits in lead-containing pipes overnight

What to Do About Lead in Palmerton Water

  1. Install an NSF 53 or NSF 58 certified filter at kitchen sink
  2. Run cold water for 30 seconds before using for drinking or cooking
  3. Use cold water only for cooking and preparing formula
  4. Consider whole-home reverse osmosis if lead service line is present

Look for filters certified under NSF 53 / NSF 58 for lead removal.

Related

Home → Contaminants → Lead → Pennsylvania → Palmerton

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Lead in Palmerton, PA Drinking Water. https://zipcheckup.com/contaminants/lead/palmerton-pa/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-contaminants-lead-palmerton-pa,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Lead in Palmerton, PA Drinking Water}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/contaminants/lead/palmerton-pa/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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