Chico, CA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 80/100
6 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Chico: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
How does Chico 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 Chico Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Chico Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 5 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0002 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.05 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Chico
3 water utilities share the residential service territory in Chico, CA - out of 5 total systems in federal records.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Chico, California, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 117,653 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 6 ZIP codes.
3 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (75%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Chico: B (80/100)
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
Chico water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0002 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 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 2 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 3 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 3 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95926 | B | 4 | 1 | Cal-water Service Company-chico |
| 95973 | B | 4 | 1 | Cal-water Service Company-chico |
| 95928 | B | 1 | 0 | Cal-water Service Company-chico |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95929 | — | Cal-water Service Company-chico | 114,925 |
All ZIP Codes in Chico
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 Chico
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Chico
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Chico: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Within the Chico market, estimated remediation claims a small portion of typical property equity - the financial burden is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Chico are relatively low compared to home values. The $967–$2,917 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 35% below the California average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Chico
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.
Lead risk in Chico appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Chico
Historical NFIP data for Chico contains 206 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $26,153. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 67% 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>$1,600</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 Chico, CA