Salinas, CA: 24 Health Violations - Home Safety 80/100
8 ZIP codes · 11 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Salinas: B.
The model grade is high, but the records on this page include findings worth reviewing.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (24 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Across Salinas, CA, the overall grade falls in the upper range - a summary score, not a measurement taken at any single tap.
How Salinas Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
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 33 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0053 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 68% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.65.
Who Supplies Your Water in Salinas
Federal records list 11 water systems tied to Salinas, CA. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Salinas, California, covering 11 community water systems serving approximately 196,107 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 5 of 8 ZIP codes.
3 of 5 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (60%) have recorded EPA violations. 24 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Salinas: B (80/100)
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
Salinas water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0053 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 5 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
8 of 8 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 36 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 14 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 9 | 2 |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 6 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93907 | C | 28 | 24 | Cwsc Salinas |
| 93908 | B | 5 | 0 | Cwsc Salinas Hills |
| 93901 | B | 3 | 0 | Cwsc Salinas |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 93905 | B | Alco Water Service | 56,253 |
| 93906 | B | Cwsc Salinas | 123,679 |
All ZIP Codes in Salinas
- 93901 [B] - 3 violations
- 93902
- 93905 [B]
- 93906 [B]
- 93907 [C] - 28 violations ⚠
- 93908 [B] - 5 violations
- 93912
- 93915
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.
Health Outcomes in Salinas
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
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. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Some homes in Salinas predate the 1986 federal restrictions on lead in new pipe and solder, so a tap test is a reasonable step for older homes; median build year: 1977.
Over half of homes in Salinas were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. 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
Of the three cost-context tiers - low, moderate and elevated - Salinas is in the low one.
Estimated remediation costs in Salinas can be compared with local home values. The $300–$1,500 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 8% below the California average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Salinas
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Salinas
Historical NFIP data for Salinas contains 164 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $16,345. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 40% 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 $600 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 Salinas, CA