Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
36 ZIP codes · Avg score 51/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03
Poor compliance rates put Lehigh County in the bottom safety tier — 36 ZIP codes, below the state average.
How Lehigh County Compares
How Lehigh County Compares
Lehigh 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: Lehigh 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: $4,430, driven primarily by sea_level
Infrastructure: 0.416% avg pipe failure probability, 53% of ZIPs at high risk
71.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2022–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Lehigh County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 13 violations. Past 5 years: 29 total (29 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: $4,430
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
144,894 housing units in Lehigh 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 Lehigh County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Lehigh 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 Lehigh County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lca Wlsa Central Division | 47,693 | 157 |
| 2 | Lca North Whitehall Division | 2,910 | 126 |
| 3 | Swt Main System | 14,500 | 126 |
| 4 | Salisbury Twp Water System | 8,522 | 122 |
| 5 | LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION | 118,000 | 117 |
35 total water systems serve Lehigh County.
All ZIP Codes in Lehigh County
36 ZIP codes tracked in Lehigh County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 18098 | Emmaus | 65 | C | 5 (1 health) | — |
| 2 | 18099 | Emmaus | 65 | C | 5 (1 health) | — |
| 3 | 18049 | Emmaus | 64 | C | 5 (1 health) | $283K |
| 4 | 18080 | Slatington | 64 | C | 4 (1 health) | $254K |
| 5 | 18052 | Whitehall | 60 | C | 0 | $247K |
| 6 | 18018 | Bethlehem | 59 | C | 6 (1 health) | $224K |
| 7 | 18060 | Limeport | 59 | C | 6 | — |
| 8 | 18036 | Coopersburg | 55 | C | 4 | $382K |
| 9 | 18101 | Allentown | 54 | D | 13 | $154K |
| 10 | 18106 | Allentown | 54 | D | 13 | $361K |
| 11 | 18034 | Center Valley | 53 | D | 9 | $398K |
| 12 | 18035 | Cherryville | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 13 | 18037 | Coplay | 53 | D | 0 | $241K |
| 14 | 18038 | Danielsville | 53 | D | 0 | $248K |
| 15 | 18046 | East Texas | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 16 | 18053 | Germansville | 53 | D | 0 | $294K |
| 17 | 18069 | Orefield | 53 | D | 9 | $407K |
| 18 | 18079 | Slatedale | 53 | D | 0 | $117K |
| 19 | 18087 | Trexlertown | 53 | D | 0 | $339K |
| 20 | 18981 | Zionhill | 53 | D | 0 | — |
| 21 | 18062 | Macungie | 49 | D | 3 | $364K |
| 22 | 18102 | Allentown | 49 | D | 13 | $147K |
| 23 | 18105 | Allentown | 49 | D | 13 | — |
| 24 | 18175 | Allentown | 48 | D | 13 | — |
| 25 | 18195 | Allentown | 48 | D | 13 | — |
| 26 | 18078 | Schnecksville | 45 | D | 0 | $361K |
| 27 | 18092 | Zionsville | 45 | D | 0 | $390K |
| 28 | 18103 | Allentown | 44 | D | 13 | $242K |
| 29 | 18104 | Allentown | 44 | D | 13 | $297K |
| 30 | 18109 | Allentown | 44 | D | 13 | $180K |
| 31 | 17077 | Ono | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 32 | 18059 | Laurys Station | 40 | D | 0 | $421K |
| 33 | 18065 | Neffs | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 34 | 18068 | Old Zionsville | 40 | D | 0 | — |
| 35 | 18086 | Treichlers | 40 | D | 0 | $262K |
| 36 | 18066 | New Tripoli | 38 | F | 23 (4 health) | $323K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Lehigh 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 1 ZIP code
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 71.1% 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 Lehigh County, Pennsylvania
Overview
Lehigh County in Pennsylvania covers 36 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (51/100).
20 of 36 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 9 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
Lehigh 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
71.1% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.