Carmel By The Sea, CA Water Safety: 55/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-04
Carmel By The Sea's water quality grade in CA reflects a middle-ground assessment — service areas range from fully compliant to violation-flagged in current EPA records.
How Carmel By The Sea Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-04
Carmel By The Sea Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 88% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.65.
Water Systems Serving Carmel By The Sea
Water delivery in Carmel By The Sea, CA is handled by 2 utilities rather than a single system — drawn from 2 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Carmel By The Sea, California (population ~2,459), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 93,416 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Carmel By The Sea — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Carmel By The Sea: C (55/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Carmel By The Sea water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Carmel By The Sea
- 0 ZIP codes 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
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93921 | C | Cal Am Water Company - Monterey | 92,450 |
All ZIP Codes in Carmel By The Sea
- 93921 [C]
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
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Carmel By The Sea
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
How Old Is Carmel By The Sea's Housing Stock?
With 88% 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
When more than half a city's housing predates the 1986 federal ban on lead solder, plumbing-era lead risk becomes a citywide concern rather than an exception. Carmel By The Sea's median build year of 1943 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in Carmel By The Sea 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.
Carmel By The Sea: Remediation Cost in Perspective
For most homeowners in Carmel By The Sea, 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.
Remediation costs in Carmel By The Sea are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$3,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 171% above the California average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Carmel By The Sea
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.
Even where utility-side monitoring meets Lead and Copper Rule requirements, the 88% pre-rule share in Carmel By The Sea keeps interior-plumbing variation as a household-level question that aggregate data cannot resolve.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Carmel By The Sea
Over the multi-decade window covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, Carmel By The Sea has accumulated 20 claims — a total that suggests more than isolated flood exposure. With 100% of ZIP codes in designated flood zones, the water-quality implications of flooding move from hypothetical to periodically relevant: treatment intake can be compromised, wells can be infiltrated, and distribution backflow can occur.
Carmel By The Sea has a moderate flood history with 20 FEMA claims averaging $11,067 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,200</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Carmel By The Sea
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 88% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Carmel By The Sea, CA