Emeryville, CA Water Safety: 58/100 (2026)
2 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated 2026-06-03
Emeryville shows moderate tap water quality for CA — some areas carry documented EPA violations while others meet standards without issues.
How Emeryville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Emeryville Water
- Estimated remediation: $1,250 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 9.67.
Who Supplies Your Water in Emeryville
With one provider handling most of Emeryville's residential supply in CA, water service accountability is concentrated in a single utility among the 1 system on record.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Emeryville, California (population ~33,998), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 1,442,800 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Emeryville — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Emeryville: C (58/100)
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
Emeryville water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Emeryville
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 2 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94608 | C | EAST BAY MUD | 1,442,800 |
| 94662 | D | EAST BAY MUD | 1,442,800 |
All ZIP Codes in Emeryville
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.
Health Outcomes in Emeryville
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
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Emeryville Homeowners
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Emeryville, the resulting ratio is low — a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.
Remediation costs in Emeryville are relatively low compared to home values. The $550–$2,100 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 12% above the California average.
Flood & Climate Risk in Emeryville
Taken together, Emeryville's 5 NFIP flood insurance claims and 50% FEMA flood zone coverage place it in the moderate range of exposure. That middle position has specific implications for water quality. The contamination pathways that flooding can open — surface water overwhelming treatment facility intake, floodwaters infiltrating private wells, distribution pressure changes creating backflow — are not constant risks in a moderate-exposure community. But they do become active during significant flood events, and the claim record here indicates enough of those events to make flood timing an occasional factor in local water quality conversations.
Emeryville has a moderate flood history with 5 FEMA claims averaging $543 per payout. 50% 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>$1,250</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 Emeryville
- 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. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Emeryville, CA