Health Violations Found PA 1 HEALTH VIOLATION

Bessemer Borough Water Department

EPA ID: PA6370003 · 1,100 people served · 5 ZIP codes

EPA records: Bessemer Borough Water Department, 4 past violations, all resolved, 1,100 served.

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

C · 62
Avg Safety Score
1,100
People Served
5
ZIP Codes Served
4
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
1
Contaminants Flagged
$119K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Bessemer Borough Water Department Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade C

Service Area Demographics

$55,179
Median Household Income
9,611
Service Area Population
36%
Disadvantaged Population
60th
Poverty Percentile
80th
Energy Burden Percentile
83%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Bessemer Borough Water Department serves a community with a median household income of $55,179 and an estimated 9,611 residents across its service area. Approximately 83% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 36% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

Bessemer Borough Water Department's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
60th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
40th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Lawrence 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.

Infrastructure Risk

71 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
10 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Accelerating Decay
Decay Status
Installed 88% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How Bessemer Borough Water Department compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Contaminant 0700 at 4 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. 8 detections 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 →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Pennsylvania

D 6 violations
Sandy Lake Boro
1,100 people
B 3 violations
F 10 violations
D 3 violations
The Escape
1,100 people
C 26 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $720
Radon Mitigation $560
PFAS Treatment $400
Water Filtration $60
Total Estimated Cost $1,740

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 $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,740 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

Bessemer Borough Water Department (EPA ID: PA6370003) is a community water system in Pennsylvania that serves approximately 1,100 people from groundwater sources.

This system provides water to 5 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: C (62/100)

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

Violation History

1 health-based violation recorded in the past 5 years. All violations have been resolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
January 1, 2024 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
December 1, 2023 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

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

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 4 Yes

Lead & Copper

No Lead and Copper Rule sampling data available for this water system.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate 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: 2 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 3 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 Bessemer Borough Water Department (PA6370003) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bessemer Borough Water Department water safe to drink?

Bessemer Borough Water Department has recorded 1 health-based violation 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 Bessemer Borough Water Department serve?

Bessemer Borough Water Department serves approximately 1,100 people across 5 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania.

Where does Bessemer Borough Water Department get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Lead Service Line Inventory

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

0
Confirmed Lead
18
Galvanized — Replacement Required
484
Unknown Material
2
Confirmed Non-Lead

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 1996-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 1,100
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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from Bessemer Borough Water Department safe to drink?
Bessemer Borough Water Department has a C safety grade based on 4 recorded violations. Some contaminants may exceed EPA limits — independent testing is recommended.
What contaminants are in Bessemer Borough Water Department's water?
Detected contaminants include Contaminant 0700. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 1 contaminant 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 Bessemer Borough Water Department serve?
Bessemer Borough Water Department serves approximately 1,100 people with drinking water across 5 ZIP codes.
What is Bessemer Borough Water Department's water source?
Bessemer Borough Water Department draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
What is the demographic profile of Bessemer Borough Water Department's service area?
The Bessemer Borough Water Department service area has a median household income of $55,179. EPA EJScreen data classifies 36% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does Bessemer Borough Water Department get its water?
Bessemer Borough Water Department's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. 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

Bessemer Borough Water Department (EPA ID: PA6370003) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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