Gardena, CA Home Safety: Home Safety 75/100
3 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Gardena: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Tap water monitoring data for Gardena shows a consistently clean picture in CA - few violations on record, compliance well above the median.
How Gardena Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Gardena Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.0026 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 81% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,367 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.71.
Water Systems Serving Gardena
Residential water service in Gardena, CA is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 5 systems on file with federal regulators.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Gardena, California (population ~84,414), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 4,429,856 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 3 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Gardena: B (75/100)
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
Gardena water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0026 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90247 | B | Gswc - Southwest | 277,740 |
| 90248 | B | Los Angeles-city, Department of Water & Power | 3,875,566 |
| 90249 | B | Gswc - Southwest | 277,740 |
All ZIP Codes in Gardena
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 Gardena
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 Gardena's Housing Stock?
With 81% 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
The lead that enters tap water in older homes often comes not from the municipal supply but from the home's own plumbing - from solder used in copper joints before the 1986 federal ban, or from lead pipes installed before 1970. In Gardena, where the median build year is 1960, these older materials are widespread. More than half the residential stock predates the 1986 solder ban, and a significant fraction predates 1970 as well. For residents in those homes, the city-wide water quality picture is a less relevant frame than the specific materials inside their own walls and under their own street.
Over half of homes in Gardena 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.
Gardena: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Gardena, property values comfortably outpace what documented remediation typically costs - the equity share is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Gardena are relatively low compared to home values. The $633–$2,267 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 12% below the California average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Gardena
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.
Households with kids in the home - for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure - face a specific local picture in Gardena. 81% of homes here come from the pre-rule era, and aggregate utility samples either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L. A baseline draw-test kit and certified lead-removal filtration are available via retailer networks for households confirming conditions at a specific tap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Gardena
Historical NFIP data for Gardena contains 8 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $1,917. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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>$1,367</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 Gardena, CA