Modesto, CA: 3 Health Violations - Home Safety 74/100
10 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Modesto: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Tap water monitoring data for Modesto shows a consistently clean picture in CA - few violations on record, compliance well above the median.
How Modesto Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Modesto, CA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Safety grade breakdown for Modesto's 7 ZIP codes.
Key Facts for Modesto Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 5 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.012 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 67% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.27 - above typical levels.
Modesto's Water Providers
Multiple utilities divide Modesto, CA's water service - 3 leading providers among 10 on the federal register.
- B
- C
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 10 ZIP codes in Modesto, California, covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 268,575 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 7 of 10 ZIP codes.
3 of 7 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (43%) have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Modesto: B (74/100)
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
Modesto water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0120 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 7 ZIP codes with known status 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): 10 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 3 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95351 | C | 4 | 2 | City of Modesto, |
| 95356 | B | 1 | 1 | Modesto Irrigation District |
| 95357 | B | 1 | 1 | Modesto Irrigation District |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95350 | B | City of Modesto, | 218,771 |
| 95354 | B | City of Modesto, | 218,771 |
| 95355 | B | Modesto Irrigation District | 23 |
| 95358 | B | City of Modesto, | 218,771 |
All ZIP Codes in Modesto
- 95350 [B]
- 95351 [C] - 4 violations ⚠
- 95352
- 95353
- 95354 [B]
- 95355 [B]
- 95356 [B] - 1 violation ⚠
- 95357 [B] - 1 violation ⚠
- 95358 [B]
- 95397
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.
Modesto Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Modesto's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Modesto Infrastructure Age
With 67% 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
Pre-1986 plumbing is not a rare legacy case in Modesto - it's the dominant profile. The median build year of 1977 indicates a housing stock where lead-soldered copper joints are a common structural feature of residences across the city.
Over half of homes in Modesto 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Modesto
Because property values in Modesto comfortably exceed estimated remediation costs, the equity impact here is proportionally small.
Remediation costs in Modesto are relatively low compared to home values. The $960–$2,750 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 46% below the California average.
Modesto: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Despite citywide averages serving as the standard public reference point, those aggregates cannot resolve what is happening at one specific faucet - and where 67% of Modesto homes come from before the solder rule or where utility samples sit at or above the action mark, the gap between system data and faucet reality matters more than it does in lower-exposure communities. An in-home draw closes that gap, with certified filtration through retailer networks available where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Modesto: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Modesto contains 88 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $37,029. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 29% 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>$1,800</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 Modesto, CA