Montebello, CA: 6 Violations — 80/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 10 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Unlike many cities its size in CA, Montebello keeps health-based violation rates low — systems here score at or above the state average for tap water safety, with no systemic concerns flagged in the current data set.
How Montebello Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Montebello Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 6 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0042 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 89% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.71.
Water Systems Serving Montebello
3 independent water providers serve Montebello, CA — 10 systems appear in federal records.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Montebello, California (population ~61,615), covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 585,216 people region-wide.
1 of 1 ZIP code (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Montebello: B (80/100)
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
Montebello water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0042 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 8 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90640 | B | 6 | 0 | Montebello Land & Water Company |
All ZIP Codes in Montebello
- 90640 [B] — 6 violations
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 Montebello
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Montebello
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Montebello's Housing Stock?
With 89% 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
Lead solder was standard in copper plumbing until federally banned in 1986; lead pipes were common in service lines pre-1970. Montebello's median build year of 1966 reflects a housing stock where these older materials are a pervasive feature — not a rare legacy — of the residential plumbing landscape.
Over half of homes in Montebello 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.
Montebello: Remediation Cost in Perspective
At current valuations, Montebello sits in the low remediation-share tier — the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.
Remediation costs in Montebello are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$3,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 11% below the California average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Montebello
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.
Even where utility-side monitoring meets Lead and Copper Rule requirements, the 89% pre-rule share in Montebello keeps interior-plumbing variation as a household-level question that aggregate data cannot resolve.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Montebello
The National Flood Insurance Program captures decades of claims at the local level, building a record of cumulative community flood exposure. For Montebello, that record documents 2 claims and 100% of ZIP codes inside FEMA-designated flood zones. What makes those numbers relevant to water quality is the set of mechanisms flooding activates: heavy precipitation that floods treatment intake zones can introduce contaminants upstream of normal filtration; well casings in low-lying areas can be infiltrated by floodwaters carrying bacteria, sediment, and chemical residue; and distribution system pressure changes during flooding can create backflow conditions. These effects become more probable as flood frequency and magnitude increase — and the NFIP record indicates both are meaningful factors locally.
Montebello has a moderate flood history with 2 FEMA claims averaging $1,968 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>$2,200</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 Montebello, CA