CITY REPORT CA

Oakland, CA Water Safety

26 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated

Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS

ZIP Codes

Water Systems

ZIPs with Violations

Zone 2

Radon Risk (Moderate)

Water Quality in Oakland

We track home safety signals for 26 ZIP codes in Oakland, California. EPA community-water data is directly mapped for 14 ZIP codes and 1 water system.

The available EPA records report no violations across 14 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts in Oakland. This measured subset does not cover ZIP records without a confirmed EPA system mapping.

Water sources: Surface water.

Lead Risk

Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 mg/L
0 of 14 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
82% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
46% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
Median year built: 1946
Most common estimated pipe material: Galvanized Steel or Copper
Lead exposure risk score: 63/100
Estimated lead service line probability: 24%
13 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk

With 82% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, Oakland residents - especially those in older neighborhoods - should consider testing their tap water for lead. Homes built before 1950 are at the highest risk of having lead service lines.

Housing Age Distribution

178,176 total housing units across 26 ZIP codes:

Era	Units	Share
Pre-1940	64,669	36%
1940–1949	17,458	10%
1950–1959	19,984	11%
1960–1969	20,197	11%
1970–1979	18,470	10%
1980–1989	10,233	6%
1990–1999	8,867	5%
2000–2009	10,550	6%
2010–2019	6,929	4%
2020+	819	0%

Flood Risk

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for Oakland:

264 flood insurance claims on record
$791,853 sum of reported building, contents, and ICC payment components
115 claims with payment data
149 claims without reported payment fields
$6,886 average reported component sum among claims with payment data
Dominant rated-zone value in historical claims: C (other)
3 of 12 ZIP codes with claim-zone records have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims
Claim-zone values are historical insurance records, not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory

Radon Risk

Dominant EPA radon zone among 26 ZIP records with zone data: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
Zone 2 (Moderate): 26 ZIP codes
Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

What Oakland Residents Can Do

Test Your Water

Order a certified lab test - home test kits cost $20–50 and cover lead, bacteria, and common contaminants
Request your utility's CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) - your water provider must publish this annually
Check your ZIP code - each area in Oakland has different water systems and risk levels

Filter Your Water

NSF-certified pitcher filter removes chlorine taste and some contaminants ($20–40)
NSF 53-certified filter for lead - recommended for homes built before 1986
Reverse osmosis system removes 95%+ of contaminants including lead, PFAS, and nitrates ($150–400)

Test for Radon

Oakland is in a moderate-risk radon area
Short-term radon test kits cost $10–25
If levels exceed 4 pCi/L, EPA recommends professional mitigation

Stay Informed

Visit your ZIP code report for detailed, address-level data
Sign up for EPA water quality alerts
Review the annual water quality report from your local utility

All ZIP Codes in Oakland

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Oakland have lead in the water?

The average 90th-percentile lead level across Oakland is 0.0000 mg/L, below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. 0 of 14 ZIP codes with known action-level status exceed the EPA limit. About 82% of housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was banned.

Is Oakland at risk for flooding?

FEMA data shows 264 flood insurance claim records in Oakland ZIP codes, with an average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum of $6,886 among 115 claims with payment data. 149 claims lack reported payment fields and are not counted as zero. Among 12 ZIP codes with historical claim-zone values, 3 have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims. Claim records do not establish current property-level flood risk; check the FEMA map for a specific address.

Are there lead pipes in Oakland homes?

82% of Oakland housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 46% was built before 1950, when lead pipes were standard. The most common estimated pipe material is Galvanized Steel or Copper. The estimated probability of lead service lines is 24%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.

Data Sources

Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
Housing age: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey
Flood data: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program
Lead exposure: Composite risk score based on housing age, water lead levels, and service line estimates
Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones

Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.

Oakland Infrastructure Age

1946

Median Build Year

Galvanized Steel or Copper

Likely Pipe Material

Median build year of 1946 means many homes predate lead paint and lead solder regulations. Consider testing if your home has original plumbing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

The year 1986 marks a critical threshold in residential plumbing safety: that's when the federal government banned lead solder from new construction, closing a major pathway for lead entering household drinking water via pipe joints. Oakland's median build year of 1946 signals that most of the city's housing was built under the newer standard. The distribution above tells the full story - the post-1986 majority lowers aggregate risk, but the pre-1986 share still deserves scrutiny from anyone living in or purchasing an older home.

1946

Median Year Built

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Most homes in Oakland were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Oakland: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

264

Total FEMA Flood Claims

$6,886

Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data

25%

A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Oakland contains 264 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $6,886. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 25% 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.

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.