Shafter, CA: 5 Health Violations - Home Safety 70/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Shafter: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (5 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Water utilities in Shafter have maintained a consistent compliance record over recent monitoring periods - the city's above-average grade in CA reflects low violation rates and no systemic health concerns flagged in current data.
How Shafter Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Shafter Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 6 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 50% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.57 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Shafter
Structurally, Shafter, CA's water supply is divided. Federal data identifies 3 water systems in the area, with 3 providers serving the bulk of residential connections. These utilities operate independently, meaning rate-setting authority and EPA compliance accountability are distributed rather than centralized.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Shafter, California (population ~23,423), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 66,868 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 5 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Shafter: B (70/100)
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
Shafter water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93263 | B | 6 | 5 | City of Shafter, |
All ZIP Codes in Shafter
- 93263 [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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
CDC Health Data for Shafter
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 Shafter
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Shafter's Housing Stock?
With 50% 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. Shafter's median build year of 1984 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 Shafter 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.
Shafter: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Across Shafter, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small - a favorable ratio for most property owners.
Remediation costs in Shafter are relatively low compared to home values. The $0–$800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 59% below the California average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Shafter
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 50% pre-rule share in Shafter 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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Shafter, CA