Berks County, Pennsylvania
58 ZIP codes · Avg score 53/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Of 58 ZIP codes in Berks County, a meaningful portion have recorded health-based violations in recent monitoring periods — placing the county in the lower tier for water safety.
How Berks County Compares
How Berks County Compares
Berks County scores 2 points below the Pennsylvania state average (55/100) and 15 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Berks 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: $4,768, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.45% avg pipe failure probability, 75% of ZIPs at high risk
70.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Berks County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2025 with 38 violations. Past 5 years: 66 total (66 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.
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: $4,768
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
171,636 housing units in Berks 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 Berks County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Berks 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 Berks County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY | 95,100 | 106 |
| 2 | Paw Penn District | 28,508 | 101 |
| 3 | Shillington Muni Authority | 13,300 | 98 |
| 4 | Muhlenberg Twp Muni Authority | 21,000 | 96 |
| 5 | Mt Penn Boro Muni Authority | 10,400 | 96 |
59 total water systems serve Berks County.
All ZIP Codes in Berks County
58 ZIP codes tracked in Berks County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 19543 | Morgantown | 69 | C | 7 (1 health) | $335K |
| 2 | 19603 | Reading | 69 | C | 8 (1 health) | — |
| 3 | 19609 | Reading | 69 | C | 8 (1 health) | $222K |
| 4 | 19565 | Wernersville | 67 | C | 3 | $263K |
| 5 | 19510 | Blandon | 65 | C | 1 | $273K |
| 6 | 19612 | Reading | 65 | C | 8 (1 health) | — |
| 7 | 19601 | Reading | 64 | C | 8 (1 health) | $111K |
| 8 | 19604 | Reading | 64 | C | 8 (1 health) | $111K |
| 9 | 19607 | Reading | 64 | C | 8 (1 health) | $211K |
| 10 | 19608 | Reading | 64 | C | 8 (1 health) | $312K |
| 11 | 19610 | Reading | 64 | C | 8 (1 health) | $320K |
| 12 | 19611 | Reading | 64 | C | 8 (1 health) | $162K |
| 13 | 17087 | Richland | 62 | C | 0 | $222K |
| 14 | 19506 | Bernville | 61 | C | 2 | $302K |
| 15 | 19562 | Topton | 61 | C | 10 (1 health) | $212K |
| 16 | 19508 | Birdsboro | 59 | C | 13 (1 health) | $242K |
| 17 | 19512 | Boyertown | 59 | C | 2 | $248K |
| 18 | 19602 | Reading | 59 | C | 8 (1 health) | $73K |
| 19 | 19605 | Reading | 59 | C | 8 (1 health) | $219K |
| 20 | 19606 | Reading | 59 | C | 8 (1 health) | $229K |
| 21 | 19526 | Hamburg | 58 | C | 8 | $210K |
| 22 | 19530 | Kutztown | 58 | C | 5 (2 health) | $265K |
| 23 | 19522 | Fleetwood | 56 | C | 15 | $255K |
| 24 | 19555 | Shoemakersville | 56 | C | 4 (1 health) | $240K |
| 25 | 19567 | Womelsdorf | 56 | C | 4 (1 health) | $231K |
| 26 | 18011 | Alburtis | 55 | C | 4 | $279K |
| 27 | 15050 | Hookstown | 53 | D | 0 | $217K |
| 28 | 17027 | Grantham | 53 | D | 0 | $267K |
| 29 | 19503 | Bally | 53 | D | 4 | $233K |
| 30 | 19507 | Bethel | 53 | D | 0 | $280K |
| 31 | 19519 | Earlville | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 32 | 19523 | Geigertown | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 33 | 19533 | Leesport | 53 | D | 6 | $263K |
| 34 | 19538 | Maxatawny | 53 | D | 0 | $191K |
| 35 | 19539 | Mertztown | 53 | D | 0 | $264K |
| 36 | 19541 | Mohrsville | 53 | D | 0 | $286K |
| 37 | 19548 | Pine Forge | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 38 | 19564 | Virginville | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 39 | 19518 | Douglassville | 51 | D | 2 | $331K |
| 40 | 19547 | Oley | 51 | D | 10 | $297K |
| 41 | 19366 | Pocopson | 45 | D | 0 | — |
| 42 | 19529 | Kempton | 45 | D | 0 | $346K |
| 43 | 19551 | Robesonia | 45 | D | 0 | $249K |
| 44 | 19505 | Bechtelsville | 43 | D | 6 (2 health) | $299K |
| 45 | 17072 | New Kingstown | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 46 | 18056 | Hereford | 40 | D | 0 | $38K |
| 47 | 19357 | Mendenhall | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 48 | 19511 | Bowers | 40 | D | 0 | $258K |
| 49 | 19516 | Centerport | 40 | D | 0 | $267K |
| 50 | 19535 | Limekiln | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 51 | 19545 | New Berlinville | 40 | D | 0 | $142K |
| 52 | 19554 | Shartlesville | 40 | D | 0 | $257K |
| 53 | 19559 | Strausstown | 40 | D | 0 | $161K |
| 54 | 19560 | Temple | 40 | D | 0 | $177K |
| 55 | 19540 | Mohnton | 38 | F | 2 | $291K |
| 56 | 19534 | Lenhartsville | 37 | F | 4 | $288K |
| 57 | 19536 | Lyon Station | 32 | F | 2 | $170K |
| 58 | 19550 | Rehrersburg | 31 | F | 1 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Berks County
While many sites publish identical guide lists across every county they cover, the selection here changes by location — driven by the EPA, NSF, FEMA, and CDC datasets that describe the actual conditions documented for this jurisdiction in the federal record.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 5 ZIP codes
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 70.5% 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
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Berks County, Pennsylvania
Overview
Berks County in Pennsylvania covers 58 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (53/100).
34 of 58 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 21 health-based violations have been documented.
← 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
Berks 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
70.5% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.