Yuma, AZ: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 67/100
5 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Yuma: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (81 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Unlike higher-rated cities in AZ, Yuma carries a fair number of documented violations - the pattern of compliance gaps keeps the city in the middle tier of EPA safety rankings.
How Yuma Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Yuma Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 515 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0046 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 35% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,940 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.4 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Yuma
Federal records list 5 water systems tied to Yuma, AZ. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 5 ZIP codes in Yuma, Arizona, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 146,630 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 5 ZIP codes.
3 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 81 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Yuma: 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
Yuma water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0046 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 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): 5 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 87 | 2 |
| Contaminant 1008 | Other | 81 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 76 | 2 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 55 | 2 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 50 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85365 | C | 515 | 81 | City of Yuma |
| 85367 | C | 236 | 0 | Foothills Water and Sewer Llc |
| 85364 | C | 54 | 17 | City of Yuma |
All ZIP Codes in Yuma
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 Yuma
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 Yuma Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Yuma
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
Because Yuma's housing stock spans a wide range of construction eras, the median build year of 1991 lands in a zone where two distinct risk populations share the same residential market. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered copper plumbing joints - that practice was federally prohibited in 1986 but remained standard until then. The fraction built before 1970 face an additional risk: lead pipes used for service line connections were common before that decade, meaning both the pipe and the solder may be lead-containing in the oldest structures. Residents in mid-century or earlier homes face a different risk environment than neighbors in houses built after 1986, even if they drink from the same utility's supply - and that property-level divergence is what makes the age distribution above more diagnostic than the city-wide median alone.
Most homes in Yuma 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 Yuma Homeowners
Property equity in Yuma sits at a moderate ratio to estimated remediation costs - a classification that reframes the household financial perspective from routine maintenance to deliberate budgeting, where most homeowners have a realistic path to addressing documented water and safety issues if they map the financial commitment against available resources before committing to scope.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Yuma. The estimated $920–$3,680 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 38% below the Arizona average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Yuma
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 35% of Yuma 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.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Yuma
Historical NFIP data for Yuma contains 69 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $13,666. 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>$1,940</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 Yuma
- 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 Lead and Copper Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Yuma's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 35% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Yuma, AZ