Boulder Creek, CA: 3 Health Violations - Home Safety 68/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Boulder Creek: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
The C shown for Boulder Creek, CA is an average of Home Safety Scores across the city's ZIP codes; that composite blends several data sources, so it can move for reasons unrelated to water, and it is not a measurement of what comes out of any tap in the city.
How Boulder Creek Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Boulder Creek Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 18 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.012 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 82% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,100 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 10.85.
Water Systems Serving Boulder Creek
Sorted by reported population served, the top 3 of 5 public water systems mapped to Boulder Creek, CA appear below, each with its own federal compliance record.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Boulder Creek, California (population ~8,433), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 27,488 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. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Boulder Creek: C (68/100)
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
Boulder Creek water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0120 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
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 12 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 8 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95006 | C | 18 | 3 | San Lorenzo Valley Water District |
All ZIP Codes in Boulder Creek
- 95006 [C] - 18 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 Boulder Creek
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Boulder Creek
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Boulder Creek's Housing Stock?
With 82% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Renovation history matters as much as age: in Boulder Creek, with a median build year of 1966, some older homes have been replumbed and some have not.
Over half of homes in Boulder Creek were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Boulder Creek: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Estimated remediation for Boulder Creek is a small fraction of median property value - one percent or less - though the ratio does not describe any single household.
Estimated remediation costs in Boulder Creek can be compared with local home values. The $600–$2,300 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 6% above the California average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Boulder Creek
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Several steps can clarify lead exposure for a Boulder Creek household. The area figure, an average of ZIP-level 90th-percentile results, is 0.010 mg/L or higher, and the pre-1986 share of local homes is about 82%. The water utility's lead service line inventory shows how a home's service line is classified, a certified laboratory test measures lead at the tap, and a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction is an option where results show lead.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Boulder Creek
Historical NFIP data for Boulder Creek contains 127 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $13,965. 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 $1,100 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 Boulder Creek
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
- Install a certified water filter. For Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, listed in the water-quality records for Boulder Creek: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 82% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Boulder Creek, CA