Flagstaff, AZ: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 67/100
6 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Flagstaff: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (5 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Safe water is the norm across most of Flagstaff, AZ - but documented violations push the city to the middle safety tier.
How Flagstaff Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Flagstaff Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 112 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0036 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 37% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,333 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.52.
Who Supplies Your Water in Flagstaff
Flagstaff, AZ is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 8 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Flagstaff, Arizona, covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 95,135 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 6 ZIP codes.
4 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 5 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Flagstaff: C (67/100)
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
Flagstaff water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0036 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 6 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 24 | 4 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 20 | 4 |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 15 | 4 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 11 | 2 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 86005 | C | 94 | 3 | City of Flagstaff |
| 86001 | C | 88 | 3 | City of Flagstaff |
| 86004 | C | 67 | 0 | City of Flagstaff |
| 86011 | C | 65 | 0 | City of Flagstaff |
All ZIP Codes in Flagstaff
- 86001 [C] - 88 violations ⚠
- 86002
- 86003
- 86004 [C] - 67 violations
- 86005 [C] - 94 violations ⚠
- 86011 [C] - 65 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.
Health Outcomes in Flagstaff
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
Top Contaminants in Flagstaff Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Flagstaff
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
Plumbing risk in residential housing tracks directly to construction era: pre-1986 homes may have lead-soldered copper joints; pre-1970 homes may have lead pipes outright. Flagstaff's median build year of 1995 places the city in a moderate risk zone where neither era dominates the housing inventory. Understanding which side of the 1986 threshold a specific property falls on - and whether it predates 1970 - is the most actionable starting point for a homeowner trying to assess their own tap water exposure.
Most homes in Flagstaff 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Flagstaff Homeowners
At current valuations, Flagstaff sits in the low remediation-share tier - the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.
Remediation costs in Flagstaff are relatively low compared to home values. The $600–$2,233 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 82% above the Arizona average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Flagstaff
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.
After the federal action removing lead-bearing solder from new plumbing took effect, building practice shifted - but 37% of the Flagstaff inventory predates that line. With aggregate samples near or beyond 0.015 mg/L, an in-home check moves out of the optional column into the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Flagstaff
Historical NFIP data for Flagstaff contains 144 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $21,057. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 33% 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>$1,333</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.
What You Can Do in Flagstaff
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Consumer Confidence Report Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Flagstaff's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 37% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Flagstaff, AZ