Lehigh, PA

High Risk (85/100)

Transparent derived index from EPA TRI / SDWIS / Superfund extracts: not an official EPA rating. Fixed caps: facilities ≤25 pts (50+ = max), log10 releases ≤25 pts, Superfund ≤25 pts (5/site), health-violation systems ≤15 pts (3/system), high-chemical facilities ≤10 pts. Bands: High ≥60, Moderate ≥30. See methodology. This is a different measure than the EJ Screening score for this county, which ranks it by percentile against other tracked counties rather than against these fixed caps.

Environmental data for Lehigh in Pennsylvania · Population: 375,408

TRI sites such as Apollo Metals Ltd; Geo Specialty Chemicals Trimet Products Group; Victaulic Co - Alburtis Facility; SDWIS systems such as LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION; CITY OF BETHLEHEM; LCA WLSA CENTRAL DIVISION; NPL sites such as Dorney Road Landfill; Hebelka Auto Salvage Yard; Heleva Landfill anchor Lehigh, PA's EPA extract. Derived burden score 85/100 (High Risk) uses fixed national caps on density, log release volume, Superfund count, and health-flagged systems - not an official EPA rating.

Health-flagged SDWIS rows in Lehigh include LCA WLSA CENTRAL DIVISION; SWT MAIN SYSTEM; EMMAUS BOROUGH PUBLIC WATER, while Apollo Metals Ltd leads reported TRI pounds among local Form R filers. AQS median AQI 39 / peak 119 in 2024.

Burden score 85/100 (High Risk) is the only weighted composite on this page. The tables below list every TRI facility, SDWIS system, and Superfund site EPA has on record for Lehigh -- not just the names called out above -- reproducing the disclosure history as filed, not a current-safety verdict. Extract current as of 2026-08-25.

Release-over-release change

What changed for Lehigh, PA: EPA TRI 2023 reporting year

2022 → 2023

Same facilities, both years

+66.0%

22 facilities that filed in 2022 and 2023

Whole inventory

+64.3%

1.1 million lb → 1.8 million lb, every facility that filed

Between the two reporting years, 0 facilities filed for the first time and 2 stopped filing. Facilities entering or leaving the inventory are excluded from the same-facility comparison above.

  • Lehigh, PA's total reported releases rose from 1.1 million lb in 2022 to 1.8 million lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Lehigh, PA's water releases rose from 136.9 thousand lb in 2022 to 246.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Lehigh, PA's off-site transfers rose from 814.5 thousand lb in 2022 to 1.4 million lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
  • Lehigh, PA's air releases rose from 106.3 thousand lb in 2022 to 110.1 thousand lb in 2023, based on EPA TRI filings.
County population (Census ACS)
375,408
TRI Facilities
28
Water Systems
42
Superfund Sites
7
Total Releases
4.1M lbs

Air Quality History (2020–2024)

EPA Air Quality Index (AQI) data showing how many days per year fall into each air quality category.

Year Good Moderate Unhealthy (SG) Max AQI
2024 267 (76%) 84 2 119
2023 230 (63%) 126 2 337
2022 246 (69%) 113 0 99
2021 198 (56%) 154 0 154
2020 262 (73%) 97 0 93
2024 Good Air Quality: 76% of days
Unhealthy days: 2
Median AQI: 39

Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County AQI categories: Good (0-50), Moderate (51-100), Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (101-150), Unhealthy (151-200), Very Unhealthy (201-300), Hazardous (301+)

For real-time air quality readings and pollutant breakdowns in Pennsylvania, see the EPA's AirNow.gov.

Water Systems (42)

System System pop (SDWIS) Violations
LCA ALLENTOWN DIVISION 118,000 0
CITY OF BETHLEHEM 117,259 0
LCA WLSA CENTRAL DIVISION 47,693 3
SWT MAIN SYSTEM 14,500 1
EMMAUS BOROUGH PUBLIC WATER 14,000 3
WHITEHALL TWP AUTHORITY 13,063 0
SALISBURY TWP WATER SYSTEM 8,522 0
UPPER SAUCON TWP WATER SUPPLY 7,300 0
CATASAUQUA MUN WATER WORKS 6,598 0
SLATINGTON BOROUGH WATER SYS 4,450 4
MACUNGIE BOROUGH AUTHORITY 3,039 0
LCA NORTH WHITEHALL DIVISION 2,910 0
COOPERSBURG MUN WATER AUTH 2,570 0
DESALES UNIVERSITY 2,000 0
LCA ARCADIA WEST DIVISION 1,392 0
SWT ALLENTOWN CONS SYSTEM 1,300 0
LCA EMMAUS CONSECUTIVE DIV 1,046 0
LCA WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP DIV 965 0
BETH 512 SYSTEM 725 0
LIL WOLF MHP 600 0
HANOVER TOWNSHIP LEHIGH COUNTY 520 0
LCA HEIDELBERG HEIGHTS DIV 509 1
KEN-MAN WATER CO 475 0
LCA MADISON NORTH DIVISION 290 0
LCA UPPER MILFORD CENTRAL DIV 256 0
LCA CLEARVIEW FARM ESTATES DIV 170 0
LCA PINE LAKES DIVISION 158 0
LCA BEVERLY HILLS DIVISION 122 0
GILLETT MHC 100 1
COUNTRY VIEW MHP 98 0
BETH WIL MAR MANOR 90 1
LCA MILL CREEK DIVISION 88 0
BETH COUNTRY SQUIRE ESTATES 87 0
VALLEY VIEW ESTATES 68 1
SCOTTYS MANUFACTURED HOMES 67 0
CHERRY MOBILE HOME PARK 62 0
BETH SHADY LANE SYSTEM 61 0
CORNERSTONE LIVING 44 4
OSSIES MOBILE HOME COMMUNITY 40 0
GRIMS MOBILE HOME COURT 40 0
KELLOWS MOBILE HOME PARK 30 3
CROSSROADS MHP 30 6

TRI Facilities (28)

# Facility Total Releases
1 Apollo Metals Ltd 2.4M lbs
2 Geo Specialty Chemicals Trimet Products Group 449.6K lbs
3 Victaulic Co - Alburtis Facility 381.7K lbs
4 Nestle Purina Petcare Co 339.3K lbs
5 American Craft Brewery LLC 197.3K lbs
6 Holcim (us) Inc. - Whitehall Plant 197.1K lbs
7 Metem - a Ge Vernova Business 42.6K lbs
8 Tri-City Marble LLC 30.9K lbs
9 Behr Process LLC - Allentown 23.0K lbs
10 Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc/lehigh Valley 19.1K lbs
11 Cera-Met 17.3K lbs
12 Carpenter Co 9.5K lbs
13 Vorteq Coil Finishers LLC 8.3K lbs
14 Mack Trucks Inc. 6.8K lbs
15 B. Braun US Device Manufacturing LLC 6.0K lbs
16 Puritan Products Inc. 3.8K lbs
17 Bridesburg Foundry Co 574 lbs
18 Penn Foam Corp 86 lbs
19 Aerc Recycling Solutions 81 lbs
20 Acme Cryogenics Inc. 47 lbs
21 Stanley Works Allentown 38 lbs
22 Smooth-On Inc 12 lbs
23 Allen Organ Co LLC 0 lbs
24 Phoenix Forging Co Inc 0 lbs
25 Jr Peters Inc 0 lbs
26 Crafco Inc. - Allentown 0 lbs
27 Phoenix Hotform 0 lbs
28 International Polymers Corp 0 lbs

Superfund Sites (7)

Site Name Status HRS Score
Dorney Road Landfill Deleted NPL Site 46.10
Hebelka Auto Salvage Yard Deleted NPL Site 31.94
Heleva Landfill NPL Site 50.23
Novak Sanitary Landfill NPL Site 42.31
Reeser's Landfill Deleted NPL Site 30.35
Rodale Manufacturing Co., Inc. NPL Site 50.00
Voortman Farm Deleted NPL Site 28.62

Cities in Lehigh (20)

Allentown
15 facilities · 18 water
Macungie
2 facilities · 2 water
Whitehall
2 facilities · 1 water
Breinigsville
2 facilities · 0 water
Alburtis
1 facilities · 1 water
Catasauqua
1 facilities · 1 water
East Texas
1 facilities · 0 water
Fogelsville
1 facilities · 0 water
Center Valley
0 facilities · 4 water
New Tripoli
0 facilities · 3 water
Orefield
0 facilities · 3 water
Slatington
0 facilities · 2 water
Coopersburg
0 facilities · 1 water
Emmaus
0 facilities · 1 water
Emmaus Borough
0 facilities · 0 water
North Whitehall Township
0 facilities · 0 water
South Whitehall Township
0 facilities · 0 water
Upper Macungie Township
0 facilities · 0 water
Upper Saucon Township
0 facilities · 0 water
Weisenberg Township
0 facilities · 0 water

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the environmental risk level in Lehigh, Pennsylvania?
Lehigh, PA has an environmental risk score of 85/100 (High Risk), based on 28 TRI facilities, 7 Superfund sites, and 42 water systems on record. 11 water systems have health-based violations. Source: EPA TRI, SDWIS, and Superfund NPL.
Are there Superfund sites in Lehigh?
Yes, Lehigh, PA has 7 Superfund sites on the EPA National Priorities List (NPL). Superfund sites are contaminated locations that require long-term cleanup under the EPA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
How many toxic release facilities are in Lehigh?
Lehigh, PA has 28 TRI-reporting facilities on record with the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, with a combined total of 4.1M lbs in reported toxic releases. TRI facilities self-report annual chemical release data to the EPA.
What is the air quality in Lehigh?
In 2024, Lehigh, PA recorded a median AQI of 39 and a peak AQI of 119. 76% of monitored days had "Good" air quality (AQI 0–50). Source: EPA Air Quality System (AQS) Annual AQI by County.
Is the drinking water safe in Lehigh?
Lehigh, PA has 42 EPA-regulated water systems. 11 systems have reported health-based violations (MCL exceedances). A past violation does not necessarily mean water is currently unsafe. For current water quality, contact your local water utility. Source: EPA SDWIS.
What environmental agencies cover Lehigh?
Environmental compliance in Lehigh, Pennsylvania is overseen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at the federal level and the Pennsylvania state environmental agency. Facilities report to the EPA Toxic Release Inventory, water systems are regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and contaminated sites are managed under the Superfund program. Contact your state environmental agency for local concerns.

What does this county environmental profile show?

This county environmental profile rolls up EPA Toxics Release Inventory facility reports, Safe Drinking Water Information System public-water-system filings, and Superfund National Priorities List sites for the county boundary defined by the U.S. Census Bureau. Facility counts reflect facilities with a reporting address inside the county, not where downstream environmental effects may be observed. Population figures are from the most recent Census ACS 5-year estimate. The county detail page is updated whenever the upstream EPA programs publish revised data; see the methodology page for the documented ingest cadence and the editorial choices governing how aggregations are computed.

Related

Data sourced from U.S. EPA environmental datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainEnviro