Sonoma, CA: 3 Health Violations - Home Safety 69/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Sonoma: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Recent monitoring in Sonoma shows middle-tier safety for CA - some systems are clean; others have logged EPA violations.
How Sonoma Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Sonoma Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 9 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0027 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 69% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.32.
Water Systems Serving Sonoma
Water delivery in Sonoma, CA is handled by 3 utilities rather than a single system - drawn from 5 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Sonoma, California, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 35,139 people. 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. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Sonoma: C (69/100)
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
Sonoma water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0027 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 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 14 | 1 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95476 | C | 9 | 3 | Valley of the Moon Water District |
All ZIP Codes in Sonoma
- 95476 [C] - 9 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 Sonoma
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 Sonoma
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Sonoma's Housing Stock?
With 69% 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
When more than half a city's housing predates the 1986 federal ban on lead solder, plumbing-era lead risk becomes a citywide concern rather than an exception. Sonoma's median build year of 1973 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in Sonoma 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.
Sonoma: Remediation Cost in Perspective
For most homeowners in Sonoma, the estimated cost of water and safety remediation represents a proportionally modest share of what properties are worth - placing this area in the lower tier of the remediation share scale.
Remediation costs in Sonoma are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,750–$3,900 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 19% above the California average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Sonoma
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.
Older stock in Sonoma represents 69% of the inventory, and citywide monitoring runs at or above the federal action level - making an in-home read a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Sonoma
Historical NFIP data for Sonoma contains 93 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $34,985. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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 <strong>$2,700</strong> 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.
What You Can Do in Sonoma
- 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. Filters rated for Stage 2 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Sonoma's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 69% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Sonoma, CA