Carbon County, Pennsylvania
20 ZIP codes · Avg score 50/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Of 20 ZIP codes in Carbon County, a meaningful portion have recorded health-based violations in recent monitoring periods — placing the county in the lower tier for water safety.
How Carbon County Compares
How Carbon County Compares
Carbon County scores 5 points below the Pennsylvania state average (55/100) and 18 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Carbon 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: $4,101, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.483% avg pipe failure probability, 65% of ZIPs at high risk
76.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Carbon County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 13 violations. Past 5 years: 49 total (49 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: $4,101
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
44,544 housing units in Carbon 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 Carbon County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Carbon 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 Carbon County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lehighton Water Authority | 9,000 | 30 |
| 2 | Jim Thorpe Borough Water East | 2,853 | 27 |
| 3 | Jim Thorpe Borough Water West | 2,274 | 27 |
| 4 | Northside Heights Estates | 461 | 22 |
| 5 | Tri Valley Eldo Lake Division | 310 | 22 |
24 total water systems serve Carbon County.
All ZIP Codes in Carbon County
20 ZIP codes tracked in Carbon County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18232 | Lansford | 66 | C | 1 | $49K |
| 2 | 18235 | Lehighton | 59 | C | 22 (6 health) | $218K |
| 3 | 18255 | Weatherly | 58 | C | 15 (1 health) | $173K |
| 4 | 18229 | Jim Thorpe | 55 | C | 5 | $215K |
| 5 | 18250 | Summit Hill | 54 | D | 5 (1 health) | $99K |
| 6 | 18210 | Albrightsville | 53 | D | 0 | $217K |
| 7 | 18211 | Andreas | 53 | D | 0 | $251K |
| 8 | 18244 | Parryville | 53 | D | 0 | $169K |
| 9 | 18334 | Long Pond | 53 | D | 0 | $241K |
| 10 | 18347 | Pocono Lake | 53 | D | 0 | $169K |
| 11 | 18350 | Pocono Pines | 53 | D | 0 | $218K |
| 12 | 18624 | Lake Harmony | 51 | D | 15 (3 health) | $424K |
| 13 | 18071 | Palmerton | 50 | D | 8 | $195K |
| 14 | 18216 | Beaver Meadows | 49 | D | 10 | $127K |
| 15 | 18212 | Ashfield | 48 | D | 13 | — |
| 16 | 18240 | Nesquehoning | 43 | D | 16 (2 health) | $135K |
| 17 | 18012 | Aquashicola | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 18 | 18218 | Coaldale | 40 | D | 0 | $69K |
| 19 | 18230 | Junedale | 40 | D | 0 | $99K |
| 20 | 18030 | Bowmanstown | 38 | F | 5 | $180K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Carbon County
Strictly editorial — no paid placements influence which guides appear; the selection draws on NSF certifications and EPA detection records for water systems serving this county.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 2 ZIP codes
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 76.9% 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 Carbon County, Pennsylvania
Overview
Carbon County in Pennsylvania covers 20 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (50/100).
11 of 20 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
Carbon 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
76.9% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.