Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
61 ZIP codes · Avg score 53/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Drinking water quality in Lancaster County has lagged behind state benchmarks — multiple documented violations across 61 ZIP codes keep the county's grade low.
How Lancaster County Compares
How Lancaster County Compares
Lancaster 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: Lancaster 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: $4,376, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.435% avg pipe failure probability, 60% of ZIPs at high risk
63.8% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2026)
↓ Improving trendEPA violation counts by year across Lancaster County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 39 violations. Past 5 years: 75 total (75 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: $4,376
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
218,542 housing units in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Lancaster 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 Lancaster County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CITY OF LANCASTER | 120,000 | 226 |
| 2 | Hawk Valley Village | 250 | 168 |
| 3 | Country Gardens Trailer Court | 180 | 168 |
| 4 | Rolling Hills Mhp | 150 | 168 |
| 5 | Timber Villa | 140 | 168 |
95 total water systems serve Lancaster County.
All ZIP Codes in Lancaster County
61 ZIP codes tracked in Lancaster County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17520 | East Petersburg | 67 | C | 3 (1 health) | $253K |
| 2 | 17501 | Akron | 66 | C | 5 | $246K |
| 3 | 17508 | Brownstown | 65 | C | 5 (2 health) | $328K |
| 4 | 17517 | Denver | 64 | C | 6 (1 health) | $281K |
| 5 | 17540 | Leola | 64 | C | 6 (1 health) | $320K |
| 6 | 17551 | Millersville | 64 | C | 3 (1 health) | $273K |
| 7 | 17605 | Lancaster | 64 | C | 14 (1 health) | — |
| 8 | 17538 | Landisville | 62 | C | 4 (1 health) | $293K |
| 9 | 17557 | New Holland | 62 | C | 6 | $262K |
| 10 | 17563 | Peach Bottom | 61 | C | 2 (1 health) | $303K |
| 11 | 17569 | Reinholds | 61 | C | 2 | $266K |
| 12 | 19501 | Adamstown | 61 | C | 2 | $227K |
| 13 | 17552 | Mount Joy | 60 | C | 1 | $276K |
| 14 | 17584 | Willow Street | 60 | C | 14 (2 health) | $297K |
| 15 | 17022 | Elizabethtown | 59 | C | 12 (1 health) | $273K |
| 16 | 17608 | Lancaster | 59 | C | 14 (1 health) | — |
| 17 | 17573 | Lancaster | 58 | C | 14 (1 health) | — |
| 18 | 17604 | Lancaster | 58 | C | 14 (1 health) | — |
| 19 | 17606 | Lancaster | 58 | C | 14 (1 health) | — |
| 20 | 17607 | Lancaster | 58 | C | 14 (1 health) | — |
| 21 | 17611 | Lancaster | 58 | C | 14 (1 health) | — |
| 22 | 17622 | Lancaster | 58 | C | 14 (1 health) | — |
| 23 | 17699 | Lancaster | 58 | C | 14 (1 health) | — |
| 24 | 17512 | Columbia | 56 | C | 21 (1 health) | $221K |
| 25 | 17578 | Stevens | 56 | C | 6 (1 health) | $290K |
| 26 | 17502 | Bainbridge | 55 | C | 4 | $226K |
| 27 | 17522 | Ephrata | 55 | C | 7 | $264K |
| 28 | 17527 | Gap | 54 | D | 13 | $298K |
| 29 | 17532 | Holtwood | 54 | D | 8 | $319K |
| 30 | 17575 | Silver Spring | 54 | D | 2 | — |
| 31 | 17601 | Lancaster | 54 | D | 14 (1 health) | $324K |
| 32 | 17603 | Lancaster | 54 | D | 14 (1 health) | $245K |
| 33 | 17028 | Grantville | 53 | D | 0 | $262K |
| 34 | 17506 | Blue Ball | 53 | D | 0 | $295K |
| 35 | 17507 | Bowmansville | 53 | D | 17 (2 health) | — |
| 36 | 17549 | Martindale | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 37 | 17554 | Mountville | 53 | D | 0 | $271K |
| 38 | 17560 | New Providence | 53 | D | 0 | $231K |
| 39 | 17562 | Paradise | 53 | D | 3 | $341K |
| 40 | 17543 | Lititz | 52 | D | 6 | $322K |
| 41 | 17534 | Intercourse | 51 | D | 9 | — |
| 42 | 17536 | Kirkwood | 51 | D | 14 | $330K |
| 43 | 17565 | Pequea | 51 | D | 3 | $323K |
| 44 | 17566 | Quarryville | 49 | D | 13 | $284K |
| 45 | 17602 | Lancaster | 49 | D | 14 (1 health) | $251K |
| 46 | 17545 | Manheim | 46 | D | 12 | $272K |
| 47 | 17010 | Campbelltown | 45 | D | 0 | — |
| 48 | 17529 | Gordonville | 45 | D | 0 | $351K |
| 49 | 17580 | Talmage | 45 | D | 0 | — |
| 50 | 17519 | East Earl | 43 | D | 6 (2 health) | $321K |
| 51 | 17555 | Narvon | 41 | D | 12 (1 health) | $359K |
| 52 | 17572 | Ronks | 41 | D | 3 | $300K |
| 53 | 17547 | Marietta | 40 | D | 0 | $243K |
| 54 | 17550 | Maytown | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 55 | 17567 | Reamstown | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 56 | 17581 | Terre Hill | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 57 | 19544 | Mount Aetna | 40 | D | 0 | $199K |
| 58 | 17509 | Christiana | 38 | F | 10 (2 health) | $293K |
| 59 | 17516 | Conestoga | 37 | F | 6 | $291K |
| 60 | 19362 | Nottingham | 37 | F | 10 | $292K |
| 61 | 17579 | Strasburg | 33 | F | 5 (2 health) | $324K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Lancaster County
Filtered against federal data, fitted to local risks.
- Best Water Filters for Lead — Lead above EPA action level in 7 ZIP codes
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 63.8% 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 Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Overview
Lancaster County in Pennsylvania covers 61 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (53/100).
48 of 61 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 34 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
Lancaster 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
63.8% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.