Solana Beach, CA Water Safety: 65/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Solana Beach's water quality grade in CA reflects a middle-ground assessment — service areas range from fully compliant to violation-flagged in current EPA records.
How Solana Beach Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Solana Beach Water
- Homes built before 1986: 82% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.18.
Who Supplies Your Water in Solana Beach
Solana Beach, CA is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 4 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Solana Beach, California (population ~11,996), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 1,497,334 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Solana Beach — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Solana Beach: C (65/100)
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
Solana Beach water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Solana Beach
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 92075 | C | SAN DIEGO, CITY OF | 1,385,379 |
All ZIP Codes in Solana Beach
- 92075 [C]
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 Solana Beach
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
Housing & Infrastructure in Solana Beach
With 82% 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
Heavily weighted toward older construction, Solana Beach's housing stock carries a median build year of 1974. That profile puts a majority of homes in the era when lead-soldered copper plumbing was standard practice.
Over half of homes in Solana Beach 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 Solana Beach Homeowners
What does remediation cost in financial context for Solana Beach homeowners? Proportionally very little — the equity share here is low, and addressing documented issues is a manageable planning question rather than a material financial burden.
Remediation costs in Solana Beach are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,100–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 162% above the California average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Solana Beach
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.
Routinely in Solana Beach, where 82% of housing predates the solder ban and aggregate utility readings hover near the federal threshold, a faucet-level draw functions as a standard household step for families with small kids.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Solana Beach
The National Flood Insurance Program captures decades of claims at the local level, building a record of cumulative community flood exposure. For Solana Beach, that record documents 29 claims and 100% of ZIP codes inside FEMA-designated flood zones. What makes those numbers relevant to water quality is the set of mechanisms flooding activates: heavy precipitation that floods treatment intake zones can introduce contaminants upstream of normal filtration; well casings in low-lying areas can be infiltrated by floodwaters carrying bacteria, sediment, and chemical residue; and distribution system pressure changes during flooding can create backflow conditions. These effects become more probable as flood frequency and magnitude increase — and the NFIP record indicates both are meaningful factors locally.
Solana Beach has a moderate flood history with 29 FEMA claims averaging $19,943 per payout. 100% 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>$1,700</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.
What You Can Do in Solana Beach
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages — your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 82% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Solana Beach, CA