Carlsbad, CA: 2 Violations - Home Safety 92/100
6 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Carlsbad: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
How does Carlsbad tap water hold up under EPA scrutiny? Above average for CA - documented violations are uncommon and the safety grade reflects a clean overall record.
How Carlsbad Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Carlsbad Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 45% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.18.
Who Supplies Your Water in Carlsbad
In Carlsbad, CA, residential water supply is distributed across multiple utilities rather than concentrated in one. The 3 leading providers out of 6 tracked systems each control their own infrastructure, file separate EPA compliance reports, and set independent rate schedules.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Carlsbad, California (population ~114,500), covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 639,434 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 6 ZIP codes.
1 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (25%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Carlsbad: A (92/100)
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
Carlsbad water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0003 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 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 6 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92009 | A | 2 | 0 | Olivenhain Mwd |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92008 | A | Carlsbad Mwd | 95,158 |
| 92010 | A | Carlsbad Mwd | 95,158 |
| 92011 | A | Carlsbad Mwd | 95,158 |
All ZIP Codes in Carlsbad
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 Carlsbad
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 Carlsbad Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Carlsbad
With 45% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Two regulatory milestones define plumbing-era risk in residential housing: 1970, when lead pipes were still commonly installed for service lines, and 1986, when lead solder was banned from new copper plumbing. A median build year of 1987 places Carlsbad in the middle zone between those thresholds - with a meaningful share of housing predating both cutoffs. The distribution shown above breaks out those eras explicitly, clarifying where concentrated risk sits across the residential inventory.
Most homes in Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad Homeowners
Remediation costs in Carlsbad are small relative to typical property values - the cost-to-value ratio here is favorable.
Remediation costs in Carlsbad are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 61% above the California average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Carlsbad
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.
Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 45% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Carlsbad.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Carlsbad
Historical NFIP data for Carlsbad contains 57 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $7,815. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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>$1,200</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Carlsbad, CA