Health Violations Found PA 2 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

Tarentum Boro Water Department

EPA ID: PA5020055 · 4,927 people served · 3 ZIP codes

Within the EPA compliance database, Tarentum Boro Water Department shows 2 violations still pending resolution — a status that applies across the full service territory of approximately 4,927 people and reflects findings that have not yet cleared the federal enforcement process or received formal closure.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

C · 56
Avg Safety Score
4,927
People Served
3
ZIP Codes Served
22
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.00181 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 1
Radon Risk · High
8
Contaminants Flagged
$124K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 2 (2021) to 14 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Tarentum Boro Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$64,745
Median Household Income
10,743
Service Area Population
27%
Disadvantaged Population
40th
Poverty Percentile
50th
Energy Burden Percentile
86%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Tarentum Boro Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $64,745 and an estimated 10,743 residents across its service area. Approximately 86% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Tarentum Boro Water Department's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
60th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Wastewater Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 60th percentile nationally for proximity to wastewater discharge points. Surface water sources near wastewater outfalls may face additional treatment challenges.

Infrastructure Risk

106 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Lead
Pipe Material
0 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 100% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Tarentum Boro Water Department compares to EPA limits

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 2 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.06 mg/L
Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects

What This Means For You

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.06 mg/L. Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

Contaminant 2931 at 6 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Lead and Copper Rule at 4 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 0700 at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 1 detection recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.014 ppt, PFOS: 0.018 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Pennsylvania

D 2 violations
D 30 violations
C 8 violations
D 21 violations
D 30 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Radon Mitigation Flood Insurance PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Radon Mitigation $1,200
Flood Insurance $1,200
PFAS Treatment $167
Water Filtration $100
Total Estimated Cost $2,667

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,665
10 years
$15,330
20 years
$30,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,667 (one-time) vs. $15,330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

TARENTUM BORO WATER DEPT (EPA ID: PA5020055) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 4,927 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 3 ZIP codes across 3 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (56/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

2 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 2 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
June 1, 2025 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2025 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Health-based Resolved
January 1, 2025 Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Health-based Resolved
October 1, 2023 Contaminant 2031 Monitoring Resolved
April 11, 2023 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2023 Contaminant 2931 Monitoring Resolved
March 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
January 11, 2023 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Contaminant 2931 Other Violation 6 No
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 4 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 3 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 3 No
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 2 Yes
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 2 No
Contaminant 2031 Other Violation 1 No
Chlorite Disinfection Byproducts 1 No

Health Risk Details

Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) (EPA limit: 0.06 mg/L)

Cancer risk; reproductive & developmental effects At-risk groups: pregnant women, infants, long-term consumers of chlorinated municipal water.

Removal methods: granular activated carbon (GAC), carbon block filter, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
15084 0.00181 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 1 ZIP code confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 2 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Tarentum Boro Water Department (PA5020055) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tarentum Boro Water Department water safe to drink?

Tarentum Boro Water Department has recorded 2 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does Tarentum Boro Water Department serve?

Tarentum Boro Water Department serves approximately 4,927 people across 3 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.

Where does Tarentum Boro Water Department get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
87

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

PFAS Substances Detected in This System

This water system's Consumer Confidence Report disclosed the following PFAS compounds. Levels are from the utility's most recent reporting cycle.

Substance Detected level EPA limit Status
PFHxS
Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
0.469 ppt 10 ppt Below EPA limit
PFNA
Perfluorononanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
0.435 ppt 10 ppt Below EPA limit
PFOS
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
1.2 ppt 4 ppt Below EPA limit
PFOA
Perfluorooctanoic acid
EPA-regulated (2024 NPDWR)
1.43 ppt 4 ppt Below EPA limit

In April 2024, EPA finalized the first National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS. Public water systems have until 2029 to comply. EPA — PFAS regulation overview →

Source: Consumer Confidence Report disclosed by TARENTUM BORO WATER DEPT.

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. PFAS detection data is sourced from public Consumer Confidence Reports filed by the utility itself.

Learn more about PFAS health effects and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
0
Unknown Material
1,979
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-06-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 4,927
Reported to Pennsylvania

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Tarentum Boro Water Department safe to drink?
Tarentum Boro Water Department has a C safety grade based on 22 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Tarentum Boro Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Haloacetic Acids (HAA5), Contaminant 2931, Lead and Copper Rule, Surface Water Treatment Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does Tarentum Boro Water Department serve?
Tarentum Boro Water Department serves approximately 4,927 people with drinking water across 3 ZIP codes.
What is Tarentum Boro Water Department's water source?
Tarentum Boro Water Department draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Tarentum Boro Water Department's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00181 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Tarentum Boro Water Department's service area?
The Tarentum Boro Water Department service area has a median household income of $64,745. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Tarentum Boro Water Department get its water?
Tarentum Boro Water Department's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

Tarentum Boro Water Department (EPA ID: PA5020055) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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