Adams County, Pennsylvania
21 ZIP codes · Avg score 49/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
While Adams County's situation varies by ZIP, its 21 ZIP codes collectively fall below the state average — addressing specific concerns starts with checking the system that serves a given address.
How Adams County Compares
How Adams County Compares
Adams County scores 6 points below the Pennsylvania state average (55/100) and 19 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Adams County, Pennsylvania
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,545, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.443% avg pipe failure probability, 61% of ZIPs at high risk
70.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2024)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Adams County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 11 violations. Past 5 years: 12 total (12 health-based).
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,545
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
34,880 housing units in Adams County
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).
Water Safety Affordability
How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Adams County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Adams County, representing a small fraction of property value.
Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Adams County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arendtsville Muni Water Sys | 1,200 | 26 |
| 2 | YORK WATER CO | 206,762 | 23 |
| 3 | Gettysburg Muni Authority | 12,425 | 15 |
| 4 | Bonneauville Muni Water Authority | 2,730 | 15 |
| 5 | Pa Amer Water Company Lake Heritage | 1,648 | 15 |
22 total water systems serve Adams County.
All ZIP Codes in Adams County
21 ZIP codes tracked in Adams County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17350 | New Oxford | 59 | C | 2 | $235K |
| 2 | 17307 | Biglerville | 57 | C | 1 | $230K |
| 3 | 17303 | Arendtsville | 56 | C | 12 | $187K |
| 4 | 17320 | Fairfield | 56 | C | 3 | $283K |
| 5 | 17325 | Gettysburg | 54 | D | 13 | $279K |
| 6 | 17250 | Rouzerville | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 7 | 17318 | Emigsville | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 8 | 17337 | Idaville | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 9 | 17343 | Mc Knightstown | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 10 | 17353 | Orrtanna | 53 | D | 0 | $248K |
| 11 | 17364 | Thomasville | 53 | D | 0 | $204K |
| 12 | 17306 | Bendersville | 47 | D | 13 | $174K |
| 13 | 17301 | Abbottstown | 45 | D | 0 | $235K |
| 14 | 17360 | Seven Valleys | 45 | D | 0 | $285K |
| 15 | 17316 | East Berlin | 43 | D | 8 | $283K |
| 16 | 17310 | Cashtown | 42 | D | 3 | — |
| 17 | 17311 | Codorus | 40 | D | 0 | $144K |
| 18 | 17342 | Loganville | 40 | D | 0 | $312K |
| 19 | 17358 | Rossville | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 20 | 17371 | York New Salem | 40 | D | 0 | $196K |
| 21 | 17375 | Peach Glen | 40 | D | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Adams County
If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 1 ZIP code
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 70.6% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Radon Test Kits — EPA Radon Zone 1 (highest risk) dominant in county
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Adams County, Pennsylvania
Overview
Adams County in Pennsylvania covers 21 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (49/100).
8 of 21 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
← Back to Pennsylvania water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.
What You Can Do
Adams County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.
Test your tap water
Order a certified lab test kit ($20-$50) to check for lead, bacteria, and other contaminants specific to your ZIP code.
Consider a certified water filter
NSF-certified filters can remove most common contaminants. Match the filter to your test results for best protection. Try our filter matcher
Contact your water utility
Request the latest Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) from your water provider. It details exactly what was found in your water supply.
Check for lead in your home
70.6% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.