While Culver City avoids CA's lowest safety tiers, a portion of its water systems have logged documented violations.

Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS Last verified: 2026-07-19

Water Quality in Culver City

We track water quality and home safety data for 4 ZIP codes in Culver City, California (population ~48,374), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 3,934,503 people region-wide.

No EPA violations have been recorded across any ZIP codes in Culver City - an excellent indicator of water quality.

Average Home Safety Score: C (56/100)

Water sources: Surface water.

Lead Risk

• 86% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
• 25% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
• Median year built: 1959
• Most common estimated pipe material: Galvanized Steel or Copper
• Lead exposure risk score: 62/100
• Estimated lead service line probability: 25%
• 2 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk

With 86% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, Culver City residents - especially those in older neighborhoods - should consider testing their tap water for lead. Homes built before 1950 are at the highest risk of having lead service lines.

Housing Age Distribution

21,951 total housing units across 4 ZIP codes:

Flood Risk

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for Culver City:

• 29 flood insurance claims on record
• $52,689 total paid out
• $1,817 average claim payout
• Dominant FEMA flood zone: C (Low risk)

Radon Risk

Dominant EPA radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

• Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
• Zone 2 (Moderate): 4 ZIP codes
• Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Neighborhoods by Safety Score

Safest Areas

What Culver City Residents Can Do

Test Your Water

• Order a certified lab test - home test kits cost $20–50 and cover lead, bacteria, and common contaminants
• Request your utility's CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) - your water provider must publish this annually
• Check your ZIP code - each area in Culver City has different water systems and risk levels

Filter Your Water

• NSF-certified pitcher filter removes chlorine taste and some contaminants ($20–40)
• NSF 53-certified filter for lead - recommended for homes built before 1986
• Reverse osmosis system removes 95%+ of contaminants including lead, PFAS, and nitrates ($150–400)

Test for Radon

• Culver City is in a moderate-risk radon area
• Short-term radon test kits cost $10–25
• If levels exceed 4 pCi/L, EPA recommends professional mitigation

Stay Informed

• Visit your ZIP code report for detailed, address-level data
• Sign up for EPA water quality alerts
• Review the annual water quality report from your local utility

All ZIP Codes in Culver City

• 90230 [C]
• 90231 [D]
• 90232 [C]
• 90233 [D]

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water safe to drink in Culver City, CA?

Culver City has an average Home Safety Score of 56/100 (grade C) across 4 ZIP codes. No EPA violations have been recorded. Safety varies by neighborhood - check your specific ZIP code report for details.

Is Culver City at risk for flooding?

FEMA data shows 29 flood insurance claims in Culver City ZIP codes, with an average payout of $1,817. Most areas are in moderate or low-risk flood zones.

Are there lead pipes in Culver City homes?

86% of Culver City housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 25% was built before 1950, when lead pipes were standard. The most common estimated pipe material is Galvanized Steel or Copper. The estimated probability of lead service lines is 25%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.

Data Sources

• Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
• Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
• Housing age: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey
• Flood data: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program
• Lead exposure: Composite risk score based on housing age, water lead levels, and service line estimates
• Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Updated daily.

Housing Age Profile

Since 1986, federal law has prohibited lead solder in new residential plumbing. With a median build year of 1959, much of Culver City's housing falls on the safer side of that line - though homes built before 1986 still warrant testing regardless of the city-wide profile.

1959

Median Year Built

0%

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

0%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Most homes in Culver City 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.

Flood & Climate Risk in Culver City

A low NFIP claim count in Culver City suggests that flood events - when they occur - have been limited in extent. That pattern matters for water quality in a specific way: the mechanisms through which flooding degrades drinking water (treatment plants taking in heavily contaminated floodwater, septic and well systems backing up, distribution pipes experiencing pressure inversions) are all stress-threshold events. They become relevant when floods are frequent enough or severe enough to overwhelm normal infrastructure. At the volume this area shows, that threshold has rarely been approached.

29

Total FEMA Flood Claims

~1

Est. Claims/Year

Culver City has a relatively low flood history with 29 FEMA claims on record. While risk is limited, severe weather events can still impact water infrastructure.

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.

Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.