COUNTY REPORT PA

Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

12 ZIP codes · Avg score 49/100 · Grade D · Updated 2026-06-04

Within Northumberland County's 12 monitored ZIP codes, water quality data indicates below-average safety — independent testing is a reasonable precaution.

How Northumberland County Compares

Northumberland County49/100
Pennsylvania avg55/100
National avg68/100

How Northumberland County Compares

D
County Grade
49/100
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
18
Water Systems

Northumberland County scores 6 points below the Pennsylvania state average (55/100) and 19 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04

D
County Grade
49
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 17821 (59/100)
Lowest ZIP: 17857 (35/100)
$186K
Median Home Value
$2,292
Avg Remediation (123% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Northumberland 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: $3,690, driven primarily by sea_level

Infrastructure: 0.495% avg pipe failure probability, 91% of ZIPs at high risk

76.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2025)

→ Stable trend

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

2021
1 (1 health)
2022
3 (3 health)
2025
1 (1 health)

Peak year: 2022 with 3 violations. Past 5 years: 5 total (5 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

Infrastructure Overview

1962
Median Build Year
76.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
50%
Pipe Failure Probability
91%
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: $3,690

Sea Level Rise $1,533/yr
Flood $1,300/yr
Energy Code Gap $473/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

33,886 housing units in Northumberland County

Pre-1940 33%
1940–1959 14%
1960–1979 25%
1980–1999 19%
2000+ 9%

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 Northumberland County

$186K
Median Home Value
$2,292
Est. Remediation Cost
1.2%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

# Water System Population Violations
1 AQUA PA ROARING CREEK DIVISION 43,000 49
2 Danville Municipal Water Authority 4,992 21
3 Veolia Water Pa Inc. Bloomsburg 29,382 21
4 Municipal Authority Sunbury 11,043 19
5 Coaldale Six Mile Run Water 320 18

18 total water systems serve Northumberland County.

All ZIP Codes in Northumberland County

12 ZIP codes tracked in Northumberland County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 17821 Danville 59 C 21 (1 health) $242K
2 16061 West Sunbury 57 C 8 $193K
3 17801 Sunbury 54 D 19 (1 health) $141K
4 17847 Milton 54 D 3 $185K
5 17823 Dornsife 53 D 0 $214K
6 16679 Six Mile Run 52 D 18 $84K
7 17872 Shamokin 51 D 9 $79K
8 17830 Herndon 49 D 4 $186K
9 17864 Port Trevorton 45 D 0 $212K
10 17867 Rebuck 40 D 0 $150K
11 17877 Snydertown 40 D 0
12 17857 Northumberland 35 F 0 $192K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Northumberland 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

Northumberland County in Pennsylvania covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of D (49/100).

7 of 12 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Pennsylvania water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

What You Can Do

Northumberland 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

76.3% 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 Northumberland County?
Northumberland County receives a grade of D. 2 of 12 ZIP codes have health-based violations. Independent water testing is recommended.
How many water systems serve Northumberland County?
Northumberland County is served by 18 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 12 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Northumberland County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Northumberland County is sea_level. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $3,690 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Northumberland County?
The median home build year in Northumberland County is 1962. 76.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Northumberland County compare to Pennsylvania?
Northumberland County has an average water safety score of 49/100, which is below the Pennsylvania state average of 55/100.

Get safety alerts for Northumberland, Pennsylvania

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool — no phone call required.