COUNTY REPORT PA

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

54 ZIP codes · Avg score 51/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-03

State safety rankings put Luzerne County near the bottom — 54 ZIP codes, below-average compliance.

How Luzerne County Compares

Luzerne County51/100
Pennsylvania avg55/100
National avg68/100

How Luzerne County Compares

D
County Grade
51/100
Avg Safety Score
54
ZIP Codes
46
Water Systems

Luzerne 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

D
County Grade
51
Avg Safety Score
54
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 18710 (70/100)
Lowest ZIP: 18690 (15/100)
$182K
Median Home Value
$2,538
Avg Remediation (139% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Luzerne County, Pennsylvania

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,689, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.478% avg pipe failure probability, 82% of ZIPs at high risk

80.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

↑ Worsening trend

EPA violation counts by year across Luzerne County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
8 (8 health)
2022
5 (5 health)
2023
7 (7 health)
2024
6 (6 health)
2025
13 (13 health)

Peak year: 2025 with 13 violations. Past 5 years: 39 total (39 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

1962
Median Build Year
80.9%
Pre-1978 Housing
48%
Pipe Failure Probability
82%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $3,689

Sea Level Rise $2,230/yr
Flood $696/yr
Energy Code Gap $340/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

110,824 housing units in Luzerne County

Pre-1940 30%
1940–1959 18%
1960–1979 25%
1980–1999 18%
2000+ 10%

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 Luzerne County

$182K
Median Home Value
$2,538
Est. Remediation Cost
1.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Luzerne 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 Luzerne County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Hca Hazleton Division 45,000 67
2 Aqua Pa Midway 2,450 64
3 Orchard West Water Assoc 90 56
4 Sci Dallas 2,900 56
5 Eei Meadows Complex 628 56

46 total water systems serve Luzerne County.

All ZIP Codes in Luzerne County

54 ZIP codes tracked in Luzerne County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 18710 Wilkes Barre 70 B 0
2 18711 Wilkes Barre 70 B 0
3 18764 Wilkes Barre 70 B 0
4 18762 Wilkes Barre 66 C 0
5 18765 Wilkes Barre 66 C 0
6 18766 Wilkes Barre 66 C 0
7 18767 Wilkes Barre 66 C 0
8 18769 Wilkes Barre 66 C 0
9 18773 Wilkes Barre 66 C 0
10 17333 Hanover 65 C 8
11 18701 Wilkes Barre 65 C 0 $246K
12 18703 Wilkes Barre 65 C 0
13 18202 Hazleton 61 C 13 (1 health) $182K
14 18219 Conyngham 61 C 10 (1 health) $219K
15 18705 Wilkes Barre 60 C 0 $123K
16 18706 Wilkes Barre 60 C 0 $122K
17 18224 Freeland 59 C 18 (3 health) $115K
18 18201 Hazleton 56 C 13 (1 health) $132K
19 18702 Wilkes Barre 55 C 0 $116K
20 18707 Mountain Top 55 C 31 (2 health) $278K
21 17749 Mc Ewensville 53 D 0 $172K
22 17886 West Milton 53 D 0 $172K
23 18223 Ebervale 53 D 0
24 18241 Nuremberg 53 D 0 $101K
25 18242 Oneida 53 D 0 $110K
26 18246 Rock Glen 53 D 0 $122K
27 18247 Saint Johns 53 D 0
28 18249 Sugarloaf 53 D 0 $280K
29 18256 Weston 53 D 0 $155K
30 18617 Glen Lyon 53 D 0 $85K
31 18627 Lehman 53 D 0
32 18656 Sweet Valley 53 D 0 $207K
33 18222 Drums 51 D 14 (1 health) $228K
34 18661 White Haven 48 D 9 $183K
35 18618 Harveys Lake 45 D 0 $236K
36 18636 Noxen 45 D 0 $176K
37 17521 Elm 40 D 0
38 17533 Hopeland 40 D 0
39 17865 Potts Grove 40 D 0 $183K
40 18221 Drifton 40 D 0 $189K
41 18225 Harleigh 40 D 0
42 18234 Lattimer Mines 40 D 0 $221K
43 18239 Milnesville 40 D 0
44 18248 Sheppton 40 D 0 $108K
45 18251 Sybertsville 40 D 0
46 18621 Hunlock Creek 40 D 0 $191K
47 18654 Shawanese 40 D 0
48 18660 Wapwallopen 40 D 0 $192K
49 18708 Shavertown 38 F 27 (2 health) $247K
50 17837 Lewisburg 35 F 0 $263K
51 18655 Shickshinny 35 F 0 $167K
52 18651 Plymouth 31 F 2 (1 health) $90K
53 18612 Dallas 26 F 28 $251K
54 18690 Dallas 15 F 28

Recommended Buyer Guides for Luzerne 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.

Overview

Luzerne County in Pennsylvania covers 54 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (51/100).

12 of 54 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 12 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Pennsylvania water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

What You Can Do

Luzerne County has a grade of D. Here are steps to protect your household.

1

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.

2

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

3

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.

4

Check for lead in your home

80.9% of homes in this county were built before 1978. Older plumbing and solder can leach lead into drinking water, especially in the morning.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Luzerne County?
Luzerne County receives a grade of D. 8 of 54 ZIP codes have health-based violations. Independent water testing is recommended.
How many water systems serve Luzerne County?
Luzerne County is served by 46 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 54 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Luzerne County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Luzerne County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $3,689 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Luzerne County?
The median home build year in Luzerne County is 1962. 80.9% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Luzerne County compare to Pennsylvania?
Luzerne County has an average water safety score of 51/100, which is below the Pennsylvania state average of 55/100.

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