Fort Mcdowell, AZ: 5 Violations - Home Safety 74/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Fort Mcdowell: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Compared to statewide averages in AZ, Fort Mcdowell scores well - health violations are below the norm and systems generally operate within federal standards.
How Fort Mcdowell Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Fort Mcdowell Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 5 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0023 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 20% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.3.
Water Systems Serving Fort Mcdowell
A single dominant system supplies most of Fort Mcdowell, AZ. That utility controls infrastructure decisions, rate structures, and EPA compliance reporting for most residential addresses served across those 1 tracked system.
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Fort Mcdowell, Arizona (population ~1,329), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 241,361 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 Fort Mcdowell: B (74/100)
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
Fort Mcdowell water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0023 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 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2105 | Other | 2 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85264 | B | 5 | 0 | City of Scottsdale |
All ZIP Codes in Fort Mcdowell
- 85264 [B] - 5 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.
CDC Health Data for Fort Mcdowell
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Fort Mcdowell
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Fort Mcdowell's Housing Stock?
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
Compared to many older metro areas, Fort Mcdowell carries a relatively newer housing profile - the median build year of 1993 places most of the stock in the post-1986 era when lead solder was federally banned from new plumbing. That shift meaningfully reduces the baseline likelihood of lead leaching from copper joint solder. Homes from before 1986 do still exist in the mix, however, and individual testing remains the only way to confirm what a specific tap actually delivers.
Most homes in Fort Mcdowell 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.
Fort Mcdowell: Remediation Cost in Perspective
While no remediation project is entirely without cost, the relationship between estimated remediation and property values in Fort Mcdowell is notably favorable - the equity share is small enough that the household financial perspective is one of proportionality rather than pressure, and most homeowners can treat it as routine planning rather than a significant financial event.
Remediation costs in Fort Mcdowell are relatively low compared to home values. The $0–$800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 27% above the Arizona average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Fort Mcdowell
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.
Although citywide aggregate readings pass cleanly and just 20% of Fort Mcdowell housing comes from the pre-rule era, the difference between what utilities sample and what arrives at one specific faucet remains a structural feature of how monitoring works. Households with kids in the home can find a certified lead-removal filter and a draw-test kit through retailer-verified channels. That step is independent of system-level data.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Fort Mcdowell, AZ