Gulf Shores, AL: 68 Violations - Home Safety 88/100
2 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Gulf Shores: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Water utilities in Gulf Shores have maintained a consistent compliance record over recent monitoring periods - the city's above-average grade in AL reflects low violation rates and no systemic health concerns flagged in current data.
How Gulf Shores Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Gulf Shores Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 68 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0024 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 43% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,500 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.02 - above typical levels.
Gulf Shores's Water Providers
With 2 utilities splitting service in Gulf Shores, AL, water accountability is distributed across 2 systems on the federal record.
- A
- A
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Gulf Shores, Alabama (population ~17,335), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 58,743 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 2 ZIP codes.
1 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (50%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Gulf Shores: A (88/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Gulf Shores water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0024 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 2 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 2 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 6 | 1 |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 6 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2005 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2010 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2015 | Other | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36542 | A | 68 | 0 | City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36547 | — | City of Gulf Shores, the Ub of the | 40,947 |
All ZIP Codes in Gulf Shores
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Gulf Shores Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Gulf Shores's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Gulf Shores Infrastructure Age
With 43% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Roughly balanced between older and newer construction, Gulf Shores shows a median build year of 1989 - a mid-range figure that places meaningful amounts of the residential inventory on both sides of the 1986 federal plumbing-solder ban.
Most homes in Gulf Shores were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Gulf Shores
At current valuations, Gulf Shores sits in the low remediation-share tier - the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.
Remediation costs in Gulf Shores are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,000–$2,150 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 122% above the Alabama average.
Gulf Shores: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Despite citywide averages serving as the standard public reference point, those aggregates cannot resolve what is happening at one specific faucet - and where 43% of Gulf Shores homes come from before the solder rule or where utility samples sit at or above the action mark, the gap between system data and faucet reality matters more than it does in lower-exposure communities. An in-home draw closes that gap, with certified filtration through retailer networks available where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Gulf Shores: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Gulf Shores contains 9,752 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $28,040. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$1,500</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Gulf Shores, AL