Stanford, CA Water Safety: 72/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Residents of Stanford generally live with tap water that beats the CA safety average on key EPA compliance metrics.
How Stanford Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Key Facts for Stanford Residents
- Homes built before 1986: 57% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 9.01.
Stanford's Water Providers
Water delivery in Stanford, CA is handled by 2 utilities rather than a single system — drawn from 2 providers in federal records, each filing its own compliance reports and setting its own rates.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Stanford, California (population ~17,912), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 103,084 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Stanford — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Stanford: B (72/100)
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
Stanford water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Stanford
- 0 ZIP codes 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.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 94305 | B | Stanford University | 35,853 |
All ZIP Codes in Stanford
- 94305 [B]
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.
Stanford Community Health Snapshot
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
Stanford Infrastructure Age
With 57% 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. Stanford's median build year of 1987 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 Stanford 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Stanford
In Stanford, the equity impact of remediation is proportionally small — not the kind of financial commitment that rises to the level of a genuine planning constraint, but a minor share of what most properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Stanford are relatively low compared to home values. The $0–$800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 171% above the California average.
Stanford: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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 57% pre-rule share in Stanford 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 Stanford, CA