Glen Ellen, CA Water Safety: 82/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Looking at federal monitoring data for Glen Ellen, CA: the city clears benchmarks set under the Safe Drinking Water Act with room to spare — recorded exceedances are rare, and the systems serving local households have not triggered any pattern of repeat deficiencies in recent cycles.
How Glen Ellen Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Glen Ellen Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 73% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.32.
Water Systems Serving Glen Ellen
Residential water in Glen Ellen, CA is supplied by 3 separate utilities — not one centralized authority. Each of those providers operates under its own service territory boundary, maintains its own distribution infrastructure, and files compliance documentation with the EPA on its own timeline. Federal data counts 4 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Glen Ellen, California (population ~2,986), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 199,591 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Glen Ellen — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Glen Ellen: B (82/100)
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
Glen Ellen water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Glen Ellen
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95442 | B | City of Santa Rosa, | 175,396 |
All ZIP Codes in Glen Ellen
- 95442 [B]
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 Glen Ellen
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 Glen Ellen's Housing Stock?
With 73% 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
While newer cities carry lower aggregate plumbing risk from lead-era construction, Glen Ellen sits firmly in the older category. The median build year of 1976 indicates that more than half the housing stock was built before 1986, when lead solder was still legally used in residential copper plumbing — and a substantial portion likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still commonly installed for service lines. These two thresholds together define the elevated plumbing risk environment that older housing cities carry, independent of what the municipal water supply delivers to the meter.
Over half of homes in Glen Ellen 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.
Glen Ellen: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Within the Glen Ellen market, estimated remediation claims a small portion of typical property equity — the financial burden is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Glen Ellen are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,600–$3,300 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 84% above the California average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Glen Ellen
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.
Although utility-side compliance with federal Lead and Copper requirements remains the system reference, that compliance does not extend down into interior plumbing. With 73% of Glen Ellen stock built before the solder ban and aggregate readings at or beyond the action mark, a household-level sample becomes the practical way to close that information gap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Glen Ellen
Glen Ellen's flood exposure sits in the moderate range: 38 NFIP claims on record and 100% of ZIP codes within FEMA-designated flood zones. Residents with private wells or older infrastructure have reasonable grounds to factor flood timing into their water quality awareness.
Glen Ellen has a moderate flood history with 38 FEMA claims averaging $25,096 per payout. 100% 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>$2,400</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 Glen Ellen, CA