Smyrna, DE Home Safety: Home Safety 83/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Smyrna: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
In current tracking cycles, Smyrna records above-average water quality outcomes for DE; compliance history over recent years shows few departures from federal standards and no systemic failures across its water systems.
How Smyrna Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Smyrna Water
- Average lead level: 0.0008 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 33% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.36 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Smyrna
Multiple utilities divide Smyrna, DE's water service - 3 leading providers among 5 on the federal register.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Smyrna, Delaware, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 27,164 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Smyrna: B (83/100)
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
Smyrna water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0008 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)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19977 | B | Smyrna Water Department | 11,813 |
All ZIP Codes in Smyrna
- 19977 [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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Smyrna
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 Smyrna
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
When trying to understand water quality at the household level, the year a home was built often matters more than any city-wide water report. That's because the 1986 federal ban on lead solder in plumbing, and the earlier phase-out of lead pipes before 1970, created sharp discontinuities in residential plumbing risk by construction era. Smyrna's median build year of 2008 puts the city in the transition zone: a substantial share of the housing stock postdates the solder ban, but a comparable fraction predates it - with the oldest homes carrying both the solder risk and the pipe risk simultaneously. Whether any individual household sits on the safer or riskier side of these thresholds is the key question, and it's one the city-wide median alone can't answer.
Most homes in Smyrna were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Smyrna Homeowners
At current valuations, Smyrna sits in the low remediation-share tier - the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.
Remediation costs in Smyrna are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 12% below the Delaware average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Smyrna
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.
Confirming what arrives at a specific faucet is something utility-side averages cannot do. With 33% of Smyrna stock built before the lead-solder ban and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory mark, a tap-level kit fits the standard diligence picture.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Smyrna
Historical NFIP data for Smyrna contains 48 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $8,636. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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>$1,800</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Smyrna, DE