Within Applegate, safety indicators for tap water remain above the CA median - documented violations are infrequent and the city's compliance record sits in the upper tier.

Data: EPA SDWIS

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Applegate, California (population ~2,099), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 7,613 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Applegate: B (75/100)

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

Applegate water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

• Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0009 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.

Areas with No Violations

All ZIP Codes in Applegate

• 95703 [B]

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.

Housing Age Profile

Housing age is one of the most reliable proxies for plumbing-era lead risk, because two federal milestones - the widespread use of lead pipes before 1970 and the continued use of lead solder until 1986 - define the highest-risk tiers of the residential housing stock. With a median build year of 1985, Applegate falls squarely within the older range - meaning a large fraction of the housing was built under the plumbing standards of those earlier eras. The distribution above captures where that risk concentrates, and why older neighborhoods warrant particular attention from residents concerned about tap water quality.

1985

Median Year Built

53%

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

19%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Pre-1970 (19%) 1970–1986 (34%) Post-1986 (47%)

Over half of homes in Applegate were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Applegate: Remediation Cost in Perspective

For most homeowners in Applegate, the estimated cost of water and safety remediation represents a proportionally modest share of what properties are worth - placing this area in the lower tier of the remediation share scale.

Median Home Value

$644,300

Est. Remediation

$700

Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Remediation costs in Applegate are relatively low compared to home values. The $150–$1,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 13% below the California average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Applegate

53%

Homes Built Before 1986

0.0009

mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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.

Confirming what arrives at a specific faucet is something utility-side averages cannot do. With 53% of Applegate stock built before the lead-solder ban and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory mark, a tap-level kit fits the standard diligence picture.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.