Blair County, Pennsylvania
16 ZIP codes · Avg score 51/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Poor compliance rates put Blair County in the bottom safety tier — 16 ZIP codes, below the state average.
How Blair County Compares
How Blair County Compares
Blair County scores 4 points below the Pennsylvania state average (55/100) and 17 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Blair 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: $2,180, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.499% avg pipe failure probability, 88% of ZIPs at high risk
77.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↓ Improving trendEPA violation counts by year across Blair County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 11 violations. Past 5 years: 24 total (24 health-based). Health-based violations are declining versus the prior 2-year window.
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: $2,180
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
57,011 housing units in Blair 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 Blair County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Blair 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 Blair County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Altoona Water Authority | 62,500 | 82 |
| 2 | Hollidaysburg Muni Authority | 8,523 | 50 |
| 3 | Bellwood Boro Authority | 3,162 | 50 |
| 4 | Brookwood Countryside | 200 | 45 |
| 5 | Westwood Park Water Company | 95 | 45 |
29 total water systems serve Blair County.
All ZIP Codes in Blair County
16 ZIP codes tracked in Blair County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16603 | Altoona | 64 | C | 15 (3 health) | — |
| 2 | 16617 | Bellwood | 62 | C | 0 | $134K |
| 3 | 16662 | Martinsburg | 60 | C | 5 | $212K |
| 4 | 16625 | Claysburg | 56 | C | 3 | $159K |
| 5 | 16601 | Altoona | 54 | D | 15 (3 health) | $139K |
| 6 | 16602 | Altoona | 54 | D | 15 (3 health) | $120K |
| 7 | 16648 | Hollidaysburg | 54 | D | 3 (1 health) | $215K |
| 8 | 16673 | Roaring Spring | 54 | D | 3 | $155K |
| 9 | 16665 | Newry | 53 | D | 0 | $165K |
| 10 | 16684 | Tipton | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 11 | 16631 | Curryville | 52 | D | 3 | $210K |
| 12 | 16637 | East Freedom | 52 | D | 0 | $116K |
| 13 | 16693 | Williamsburg | 49 | D | 3 | $152K |
| 14 | 16635 | Duncansville | 39 | F | 14 | $187K |
| 15 | 16686 | Tyrone | 34 | F | 20 (1 health) | $167K |
| 16 | 16682 | Sproul | 27 | F | 38 (2 health) | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Blair County
Methodologically, the recommendation order reflects severity in the federal record: contaminants flagged in EPA detection records for this county outrank generic water concerns, FEMA-confirmed hazard ratings shift emergency-related categories upward, and CDC lead-exposure markers govern when lead-test kits and certified filters appear at the top of the list.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 2 ZIP codes
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 77.7% 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 Blair County, Pennsylvania
Overview
Blair County in Pennsylvania covers 16 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (51/100).
12 of 16 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 13 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
Blair 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
77.7% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.