Salinas, CA: 24 Violations — 75/100 (2026)
8 ZIP codes · 11 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Although water quality varies across any metro, Salinas's systems collectively post above-average compliance scores for CA — and documented violations are few.
How Salinas Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Salinas, CA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Salinas score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Salinas Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 24 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0063 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 68% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,300 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.65.
Who Supplies Your Water in Salinas
Across Salinas, CA, residential water comes from 3 primary utilities rather than a single consolidated provider. Each system operates independently — managing its own distribution infrastructure, rate schedules, and EPA compliance filings. Federal records track 11 water systems in the area, with these top providers accounting for the majority of residential connections.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Salinas, California, covering 11 community water systems serving approximately 196,107 people.
8 of 8 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Salinas: B (75/100)
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
Salinas water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0063 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)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 8 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
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 | 27 | 8 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93901 | B | 3 | 0 | Tasco Spreckels Water Company |
| 93902 | B | 3 | 0 | Alco Water Service |
| 93905 | B | 3 | 0 | Alco Water Service |
| 93906 | B | 3 | 0 | Alco Water Service |
| 93907 | B | 3 | 0 | Prunedale Mwc |
| 93908 | B | 3 | 0 | Alco Water Service |
| 93912 | B | 3 | 0 | Alco Water Service |
| 93915 | B | 3 | 0 | Alco Water Service |
All ZIP Codes in Salinas
- 93901 [B] — 3 violations
- 93902 [B] — 3 violations
- 93905 [B] — 3 violations
- 93906 [B] — 3 violations
- 93907 [B] — 3 violations
- 93908 [B] — 3 violations
- 93912 [B] — 3 violations
- 93915 [B] — 3 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.
Health Outcomes in Salinas
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
Top Contaminants in Salinas Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Salinas
With 68% 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 character of Salinas's housing stock is one of deep historical layering — a median build year of 1977 signals a city built largely before the plumbing era changes of 1986 and 1970. Lead-soldered copper joints and, in the oldest properties, lead service lines are commonly present in this inventory. That context shapes what individual water testing may reveal, particularly in neighborhoods where the oldest housing is concentrated.
Over half of homes in Salinas 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Salinas Homeowners
While no remediation project is entirely without cost, the relationship between estimated remediation and property values in Salinas is notably favorable — the equity share is small enough that the household financial perspective is one of proportionality rather than pressure, and most homeowners can treat it as routine planning rather than a significant financial event.
Remediation costs in Salinas are relatively low compared to home values. The $600–$2,150 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 8% below the California average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Salinas
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.
68% — that captures the slice of Salinas housing dating from before the federal ban on solder containing lead. It pairs with aggregate utility readings that either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L, the benchmark set under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. Together, the two figures shift one-home reads into a standard household-level confirmation, particularly for families with kids. A certified lead-removal filter is available through retailer-verified channels if a kit returns results that warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Salinas
63% of ZIP codes in Salinas are mapped into FEMA-designated flood zones, and the NFIP records 164 claims reflecting a multi-event flood history. That combination places local flood exposure in the range where water-quality implications deserve at least periodic attention.
Salinas has a moderate flood history with 164 FEMA claims averaging $10,189 per payout. 63% 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>$1,300</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 Salinas, CA