Santa Clara, CA Water Safety: 82/100 (2026)
7 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Based on current monitoring, Santa Clara holds an above-average drinking water safety record for CA — violations are infrequent and typically minor when they do appear.
How Santa Clara Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Santa Clara, CA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Santa Clara score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Santa Clara Water
- Average lead level: 0.0033 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,071 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 9.01.
Who Supplies Your Water in Santa Clara
3 water utilities share the residential service territory in Santa Clara, CA — out of 4 total systems in federal records.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 7 ZIP codes in Santa Clara, California (population ~129,521), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 1,328,578 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Santa Clara — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Santa Clara: B (82/100)
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
Santa Clara water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0033 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): 7 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 95050 | B | City of Santa Clara | 130,746 |
| 95051 | B | City of Santa Clara | 130,746 |
| 95052 | B | City of Santa Clara | 130,746 |
| 95053 | B | City of Santa Clara | 130,746 |
| 95054 | B | City of Santa Clara | 130,746 |
| 95055 | B | City of Santa Clara | 130,746 |
| 95056 | B | City of Santa Clara | 130,746 |
All ZIP Codes in Santa Clara
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 Santa Clara
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
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Santa Clara Homeowners
Low proportionality — that's the Santa Clara picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Santa Clara are relatively low compared to home values. The $443–$1,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 100% above the California average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Santa Clara
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.
Lead risk in Santa Clara appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Santa Clara
Taken together, Santa Clara's 24 NFIP flood insurance claims and 43% FEMA flood zone coverage place it in the moderate range of exposure. That middle position has specific implications for water quality. The contamination pathways that flooding can open — surface water overwhelming treatment facility intake, floodwaters infiltrating private wells, distribution pressure changes creating backflow — are not constant risks in a moderate-exposure community. But they do become active during significant flood events, and the claim record here indicates enough of those events to make flood timing an occasional factor in local water quality conversations.
Santa Clara has a moderate flood history with 24 FEMA claims averaging $1,871 per payout. 43% 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>$1,071</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 Santa Clara, CA