Franklin County, Pennsylvania
30 ZIP codes · Avg score 47/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Franklin County's water safety record falls below average — health-based violations are on file in a notable share of the county's 30 ZIP codes, and several systems have recorded exceedances that trigger federal notification requirements.
How Franklin County Compares
How Franklin County Compares
Franklin County scores 8 points below the Pennsylvania state average (55/100) and 21 points below the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Franklin 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: $1,407, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.455% avg pipe failure probability, 89% of ZIPs at high risk
72.6% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↓ Improving trendEPA violation counts by year across Franklin County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2023 with 18 violations. Past 5 years: 33 total (33 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: $1,407
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
60,734 housing units in Franklin 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 Franklin County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Franklin 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 Franklin County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guilford Water Authority | 28,135 | 112 |
| 2 | South Mountain Restoration Ctr | 950 | 67 |
| 3 | MERCERSBURG MUNI WATER AUTH | 2,350 | 58 |
| 4 | Whitetail Ski Resort | 912 | 46 |
| 5 | Greencastle Area Water Authority | 5,500 | 45 |
27 total water systems serve Franklin County.
All ZIP Codes in Franklin County
30 ZIP codes tracked in Franklin County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17202 | Chambersburg | 62 | C | 10 (1 health) | $258K |
| 2 | 17237 | Mont Alto | 61 | C | 7 (1 health) | $190K |
| 3 | 17236 | Mercersburg | 60 | C | 46 (2 health) | $250K |
| 4 | 17214 | Blue Ridge Summit | 58 | C | 4 (1 health) | $291K |
| 5 | 17201 | Chambersburg | 57 | C | 10 (1 health) | $207K |
| 6 | 17225 | Greencastle | 57 | C | 12 | $266K |
| 7 | 17222 | Fayetteville | 56 | C | 2 | $236K |
| 8 | 17220 | Dry Run | 54 | D | 7 (1 health) | $242K |
| 9 | 17221 | Fannettsburg | 54 | D | 20 (1 health) | $204K |
| 10 | 17213 | Blairs Mills | 53 | D | 0 | $189K |
| 11 | 17235 | Marion | 53 | D | 0 | $249K |
| 12 | 17252 | Saint Thomas | 53 | D | 0 | $202K |
| 13 | 17254 | Scotland | 53 | D | 0 | $271K |
| 14 | 17268 | Waynesboro | 50 | D | 23 | $226K |
| 15 | 17210 | Amberson | 40 | D | 0 | $218K |
| 16 | 17215 | Burnt Cabins | 40 | D | 0 | $193K |
| 17 | 17217 | Concord | 40 | D | 0 | $270K |
| 18 | 17219 | Doylesburg | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 19 | 17231 | Lemasters | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 20 | 17232 | Lurgan | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 21 | 17247 | Quincy | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 22 | 17251 | Roxbury | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 23 | 17253 | Saltillo | 40 | D | 8 | $112K |
| 24 | 17256 | Shady Grove | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 25 | 17262 | Spring Run | 40 | D | 0 | $222K |
| 26 | 17263 | State Line | 40 | D | 0 | $205K |
| 27 | 17265 | Upperstrasburg | 40 | D | 0 | $142K |
| 28 | 17271 | Willow Hill | 40 | D | 0 | $222K |
| 29 | 17272 | Zullinger | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 30 | 17261 | South Mountain | 37 | F | 67 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Franklin 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 1 ZIP code
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 72.6% 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
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Franklin County, Pennsylvania
Overview
Franklin County in Pennsylvania covers 30 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (47/100).
12 of 30 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 8 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
Franklin 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
72.6% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.