Luzerne County, PA

ZIP 18709

In ZIP 18709, 5 of the 12 things we check have at least one part graded D or F.

• Drinking water: Paw Nesbitt meets every EPA legal limit; 8 contaminants are above health goals, led by lead at 18× California’s Public Health Goal.
• Nearest Superfund site: Butler Mine Tunnel, 6.9 miles away.
• Largest share of modeled toxic air from industry: Intermetro Industries Corp (70%), mostly chromium compounds.
• Fine particles (PM2.5) average 7.1 µg/m³; the WHO guideline is 5 and the EPA annual standard is 9.
• About 41,958 kg of agricultural pesticides are applied in the county each year.

Grades for ZIP 18709

• Superfund sites nearbyA
• Factories and industrial sitesC
• Oil and gas wellsA
• Parks and nature nearbyC to D
• Air qualityB
• Drinking water qualityD
• Pesticide useC to D
• Neighborhood health statusD to F
• Past wildfire impactsA
• Past flood impactsC
• Noise levelsA to C
• Radiation signalsD

Based on 2 census tracts · compiled September 10, 2026 · how each grade works and its sources

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