Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
36 ZIP codes · Avg score 51/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-04
Systems across Lackawanna County's 36 ZIP codes show elevated violation counts — the county's low safety grade reflects that ongoing compliance pattern.
How Lackawanna County Compares
How Lackawanna County Compares
Lackawanna 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: 2026-06-04
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Lackawanna 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: $2,899, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.474% avg pipe failure probability, 93% of ZIPs at high risk
79.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Lackawanna County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 21 violations. Past 5 years: 69 total (69 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: $2,899
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
131,167 housing units in Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Lackawanna 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 Lackawanna County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PA AMER WATER CO LAKE SCRANTON | 134,570 | 73 |
| 2 | Roamingwood Sewer and Water | 3,775 | 70 |
| 3 | Hamlin Water Company | 400 | 70 |
| 4 | Skyview Gardens Apts | 234 | 44 |
| 5 | Skyview Gardens Heights Apts | 186 | 44 |
35 total water systems serve Lackawanna County.
All ZIP Codes in Lackawanna County
36 ZIP codes tracked in Lackawanna County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18501 | Scranton | 70 | B | 0 | — |
| 2 | 18503 | Scranton | 70 | B | 0 | $259K |
| 3 | 18510 | Scranton | 70 | B | 0 | $178K |
| 4 | 18512 | Scranton | 70 | B | 0 | $174K |
| 5 | 18502 | Scranton | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 6 | 18540 | Scranton | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 7 | 18577 | Scranton | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 8 | 18504 | Scranton | 65 | C | 0 | $144K |
| 9 | 18505 | Scranton | 65 | C | 0 | $140K |
| 10 | 18519 | Scranton | 65 | C | 0 | $165K |
| 11 | 18436 | Lake Ariel | 61 | C | 30 (1 health) | $222K |
| 12 | 18411 | Clarks Summit | 59 | C | 11 (1 health) | $274K |
| 13 | 18508 | Scranton | 55 | C | 0 | $121K |
| 14 | 18509 | Scranton | 55 | C | 0 | $176K |
| 15 | 18410 | Chinchilla | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 16 | 18416 | Elmhurst | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 17 | 18456 | Prompton | 53 | D | 0 | $300K |
| 18 | 18471 | Waverly | 53 | D | 0 | $298K |
| 19 | 18517 | Taylor | 53 | D | 0 | $176K |
| 20 | 18602 | Bear Creek | 53 | D | 0 | $366K |
| 21 | 18472 | Waymart | 45 | D | 0 | $234K |
| 22 | 18507 | Moosic | 45 | D | 0 | $242K |
| 23 | 18518 | Old Forge | 45 | D | 0 | $170K |
| 24 | 18641 | Pittston | 45 | D | 0 | $143K |
| 25 | 18642 | Duryea | 45 | D | 0 | $154K |
| 26 | 18644 | Wyoming | 45 | D | 0 | $167K |
| 27 | 18709 | Luzerne | 45 | D | 0 | $114K |
| 28 | 17570 | Rheems | 40 | D | 0 | $243K |
| 29 | 18433 | Jermyn | 40 | D | 0 | $202K |
| 30 | 18459 | South Canaan | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 31 | 18640 | Pittston | 35 | F | 0 | $135K |
| 32 | 18643 | Pittston | 35 | F | 0 | $157K |
| 33 | 18704 | Kingston | 35 | F | 0 | $155K |
| 34 | 18444 | Moscow | 32 | F | 40 (8 health) | $249K |
| 35 | 18447 | Olyphant | 21 | F | 22 (8 health) | $195K |
| 36 | 18448 | Olyphant | 16 | F | 22 (8 health) | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Lackawanna County
Retailer arrangements don't shape what appears here — the selection logic is independent, filtered against EPA detections and the federal hazard data on file for this county.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 3 ZIP codes
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 79.8% 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 Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania
Overview
Lackawanna County in Pennsylvania covers 36 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (51/100).
5 of 36 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 26 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
Lackawanna 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
79.8% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.