Garden Grove, CA Water Safety: 93/100 (2026)
7 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
How does Garden Grove 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 Garden Grove Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Garden Grove, CA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of water safety grades across Garden Grove.
Garden Grove Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.0019 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 85% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,714 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.23.
Water Systems Serving Garden Grove
In Garden Grove, CA, residential water supply is distributed across multiple utilities rather than concentrated in one. The 3 leading providers out of 7 tracked systems each control their own infrastructure, file separate EPA compliance reports, and set independent rate schedules.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 7 ZIP codes in Garden Grove, California (population ~172,745), covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 1,216,165 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Garden Grove — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Garden Grove: A (93/100)
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
Garden Grove water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0019 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes 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): 7 ZIP codes
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92840 | A | City of Garden Grove | 174,226 |
| 92841 | A | City of Garden Grove | 174,226 |
| 92842 | A | City of Garden Grove | 174,226 |
| 92843 | A | City of Garden Grove | 174,226 |
| 92844 | A | City of Garden Grove | 174,226 |
| 92845 | A | City of Garden Grove | 174,226 |
| 92846 | A | City of Garden Grove | 174,226 |
All ZIP Codes in Garden Grove
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 Garden Grove
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 Garden Grove's Housing Stock?
With 85% 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
For residents trying to assess tap water risk in Garden Grove, the median build year of 1965 is the starting context. It signals that a majority of homes were constructed before 1986 — the year federal rules prohibited lead solder in new plumbing — and that a significant share likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still a common choice for residential service connections. Neither risk tier is rare in this housing inventory.
Over half of homes in Garden Grove 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.
Garden Grove: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Garden Grove, property values comfortably outpace what documented remediation typically costs — the equity share is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Garden Grove are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,143–$2,443 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 1% above the California average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Garden Grove
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.
Practically, the structural drivers in Garden Grove — 85% pre-rule stock and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory benchmark — make an in-home draw the practical way to translate aggregate averages into the specific conditions at one address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Garden Grove
NFIP records stretching across multiple decades show Garden Grove accumulating 176 claims and carrying 86% of its ZIP codes inside FEMA flood zones — evidence of meaningful exposure that extends beyond isolated incidents. The mechanisms linking flooding to water quality haven't changed: treatment facilities can be overwhelmed, wells can be infiltrated, and distribution systems can experience backflow. For a community at this exposure level, those mechanisms shift from hypothetical to periodically relevant.
Garden Grove has a moderate flood history with 176 FEMA claims averaging $4,647 per payout. 86% 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>$1,714</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Garden Grove, CA