Worst Infrastructure: Philadelphia Metro — 2026

Out of 141 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in the Philadelphia metro area, these areas face the highest estimated risk of water pipe failure based on infrastructure age, funding gaps, and violation history.

Statistic	Value
ZIP codes ranked	141
Highest risk	60%
Median risk	43%
Average risk	44%

Top 100 Highest Risk ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Pipe Failure Risk	Risk Level	Safety Score
1	16172	New Wilmington	PA	60%	High	82/100
2	19134	Philadelphia	PA	58%	High	87/100
3	19137	Philadelphia	PA	58%	High	92/100
4	19143	Philadelphia	PA	58%	High	87/100
5	19132	Philadelphia	PA	57%	High	87/100
6	19138	Philadelphia	PA	57%	High	87/100
7	19140	Philadelphia	PA	57%	High	92/100
8	19148	Philadelphia	PA	57%	High	87/100
9	19151	Philadelphia	PA	57%	High	87/100
10	08103	Camden	NJ	57%	High	70/100
11	19119	Philadelphia	PA	56%	High	87/100
12	19120	Philadelphia	PA	56%	High	87/100
13	19124	Philadelphia	PA	56%	High	87/100
14	19141	Philadelphia	PA	56%	High	87/100
15	08102	Camden	NJ	56%	High	70/100
16	17959	New Philadelphia	PA	55%	High	69/100
17	19133	Philadelphia	PA	55%	High	92/100
18	19139	Philadelphia	PA	55%	High	92/100
19	19142	Philadelphia	PA	55%	High	87/100
20	19144	Philadelphia	PA	55%	High	87/100
21	08104	Camden	NJ	55%	High	65/100
22	19126	Philadelphia	PA	54%	High	92/100
23	19145	Philadelphia	PA	54%	High	87/100
24	08105	Camden	NJ	54%	High	60/100
25	08316	Dorchester	NJ	54%	High	63/100
26	15074	Rochester	PA	53%	High	70/100
27	19013	Chester	PA	53%	High	60/100
28	19108	Philadelphia	PA	53%	High	96/100
29	19118	Philadelphia	PA	53%	High	92/100
30	19125	Philadelphia	PA	53%	High	92/100
31	19131	Philadelphia	PA	53%	High	87/100
32	19135	Philadelphia	PA	53%	High	87/100
33	19149	Philadelphia	PA	52%	High	87/100
34	19150	Philadelphia	PA	52%	High	87/100
35	19383	West Chester	PA	52%	High	54/100
36	19111	Philadelphia	PA	51%	High	87/100
37	19136	Philadelphia	PA	51%	High	87/100
38	19146	Philadelphia	PA	51%	High	87/100
39	19147	Philadelphia	PA	51%	High	87/100
40	19805	Wilmington	DE	51%	High	73/100
41	19806	Wilmington	DE	51%	High	78/100
42	08101	Camden	NJ	51%	High	75/100
43	19107	Philadelphia	PA	50%	High	92/100
44	19127	Philadelphia	PA	50%	High	82/100
45	19128	Philadelphia	PA	50%	High	82/100
46	19129	Philadelphia	PA	50%	High	87/100
47	19802	Wilmington	DE	50%	High	73/100
48	19103	Philadelphia	PA	49%	High	82/100
49	19104	Philadelphia	PA	49%	High	92/100
50	19106	Philadelphia	PA	49%	High	87/100
51	19121	Philadelphia	PA	49%	High	92/100
52	19130	Philadelphia	PA	49%	High	87/100
53	19102	Philadelphia	PA	48%	High	92/100
54	19152	Philadelphia	PA	48%	High	87/100
55	19153	Philadelphia	PA	48%	High	77/100
56	19809	Wilmington	DE	48%	High	78/100
57	15771	Rochester Mills	PA	47%	High	53/100
58	19154	Philadelphia	PA	47%	High	87/100
59	19804	Wilmington	DE	47%	High	68/100
60	16142	New Wilmington	PA	46%	High	82/100
61	19114	Philadelphia	PA	46%	High	82/100
62	19116	Philadelphia	PA	46%	High	87/100
63	19382	West Chester	PA	46%	High	46/100
64	19801	Wilmington	DE	46%	High	73/100
65	19115	Philadelphia	PA	45%	High	87/100
66	19380	West Chester	PA	45%	High	46/100
67	19807	Wilmington	DE	45%	High	90/100
68	19381	West Chester	PA	44%	High	61/100
69	19388	West Chester	PA	44%	High	54/100
70	19803	Wilmington	DE	44%	High	73/100
71	17345	Manchester	PA	43%	High	52/100
72	19122	Philadelphia	PA	43%	High	92/100
73	19810	Wilmington	DE	43%	High	73/100
74	07930	Chester	NJ	43%	High	66/100
75	08759	Manchester Township	NJ	43%	High	73/100
76	19017	Chester Heights	PA	41%	High	53/100
77	19123	Philadelphia	PA	41%	High	92/100
78	19808	Wilmington	DE	41%	High	73/100
79	21102	Manchester	MD	39%	Moderate	70/100
80	19934	Camden Wyoming	DE	37%	Moderate	73/100
81	19113	Philadelphia	PA	36%	Moderate	67/100
82	08515	Chesterfield	NJ	36%	Moderate	53/100
83	19019	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
84	19092	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
85	19093	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
86	19099	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
87	19101	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	92/100
88	19105	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	67/100
89	19109	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
90	19110	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	92/100
91	19112	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	92/100
92	19155	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
93	19160	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
94	19161	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
95	19162	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
96	19170	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
97	19171	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
98	19172	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
99	19173	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100
100	19175	Philadelphia	PA	35%	Moderate	96/100

Methodology

Infrastructure risk rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (DWINS 2023) — state-level 20-year funding gap per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980, when lead solder and galvanized pipes were common; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and 90th percentile lead testing results. The combined score is normalized to a 0-100% probability scale.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-07-19.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pipe failure probability mean?

Pipe failure probability estimates the likelihood of water main breaks, lead contamination from corroded pipes, or service disruptions based on infrastructure age, state funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. It is not a prediction of imminent failure, but a risk assessment based on known factors.

How is infrastructure risk calculated?

The risk score combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure funding gap per capita (from EPA DWINS 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system violation and enforcement history (EPA SDWIS), and lead exposure indicators (service line probability and testing results).

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Test your tap water annually, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. Consider a whole-house water filter (NSF/ANSI 53 certified). Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high risk mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure risk indicates long-term vulnerability, not current contamination. However, areas with aging pipes and high violation counts have a statistically higher chance of water quality issues. Regular testing is the best way to verify your water safety.