Orange Beach, AL: 68 Violations - Home Safety 72/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Orange Beach: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Orange Beach tap water earns a high safety grade - above-average compliance with AL and federal standards.
How Orange Beach Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Orange Beach 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: 17% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,100 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.02 - above typical levels.
Orange Beach's Water Providers
In Orange Beach, AL, residential water supply is distributed across multiple utilities rather than concentrated in one. The 2 leading providers out of 2 tracked systems each control their own infrastructure, file separate EPA compliance reports, and set independent rate schedules.
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Orange Beach, Alabama (population ~9,275), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 58,743 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Orange Beach: B (72/100)
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
Orange Beach 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 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36561 | B | 68 | 0 | Orange Beach Water Sewer and F.p.a. |
All ZIP Codes in Orange Beach
- 36561 [B] - 68 violations
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.
Orange Beach 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 Orange Beach's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Orange Beach Infrastructure Age
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
For most of Orange Beach's housing stock, construction occurred after 1986 - when lead solder in plumbing was federally prohibited. The median build year of 1990 broadly reflects that newer profile.
Most homes in Orange Beach 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 Orange Beach
Low proportionality - that's the Orange Beach picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Orange Beach are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,200–$4,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 221% above the Alabama average.
Orange Beach: 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.
Generally, the structural picture for Orange Beach runs in a quiet direction. Aggregate sampling rests under the federal action benchmark, and 17% of housing comes from the pre-rule era - a contained local footprint. That dual signal keeps lead in the background of local concerns, while a one-faucet measurement still answers a different question than any system average can: what is actually flowing from one specific tap on a given morning.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Orange Beach: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Orange Beach contains 4,779 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $67,748. 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>$3,100</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 Orange Beach, AL