Delray Beach, FL: 32 Health Violations — 78/100 (2026)
8 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
EPA compliance records for Delray Beach tell a largely clear story: violation rates are low, health-based exceedances are uncommon, and the city's grade puts it well above average within FL.
How Delray Beach Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Delray Beach, FL
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Delray Beach score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Delray Beach Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 216 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 56% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,100 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.79 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Delray Beach
Residential water in Delray Beach, FL is supplied by 3 separate utilities — not one centralized authority. Each of those providers operates under its own service territory boundary, maintains its own distribution infrastructure, and files compliance documentation with the EPA on its own timeline. Federal data counts 5 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Delray Beach, Florida (population ~121,353), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 800,620 people region-wide.
8 of 8 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 32 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Delray Beach: B (78/100)
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
Delray Beach water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0030 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 8 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 72 | 8 |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 63 | 8 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 36 | 8 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 36 | 8 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 18 | 8 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33444 | B | 27 | 4 | Delray Beach Public Water System |
| 33445 | B | 27 | 4 | Delray Beach Public Water System |
| 33446 | B | 27 | 4 | Sunshine Meadows |
| 33447 | A | 27 | 4 | Delray Beach Public Water System |
| 33448 | A | 27 | 4 | Delray Beach Public Water System |
| 33482 | A | 27 | 4 | Delray Beach Public Water System |
| 33483 | B | 27 | 4 | Delray Beach Public Water System |
| 33484 | B | 27 | 4 | Delray Beach Public Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Delray Beach
- 33444 [B] — 27 violations ⚠
- 33445 [B] — 27 violations ⚠
- 33446 [B] — 27 violations ⚠
- 33447 [A] — 27 violations ⚠
- 33448 [A] — 27 violations ⚠
- 33482 [A] — 27 violations ⚠
- 33483 [B] — 27 violations ⚠
- 33484 [B] — 27 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
Updated daily.
Health Outcomes in Delray 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
Top Contaminants in Delray Beach Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Delray Beach
With 56% 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
The lead that enters tap water in older homes often comes not from the municipal supply but from the home's own plumbing — from solder used in copper joints before the 1986 federal ban, or from lead pipes installed before 1970. In Delray Beach, where the median build year is 1982, these older materials are widespread. More than half the residential stock predates the 1986 solder ban, and a significant fraction predates 1970 as well. For residents in those homes, the city-wide water quality picture is a less relevant frame than the specific materials inside their own walls and under their own street.
Over half of homes in Delray 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 Delray Beach Homeowners
In Delray Beach, property values comfortably outpace what documented remediation typically costs — the equity share is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Delray Beach are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,300–$3,663 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 23% above the Florida average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Delray 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.
Households with kids in the home — for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure — face a specific local picture in Delray Beach. 56% of homes here come from the pre-rule era, and aggregate utility samples either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L. A baseline draw-test kit and certified lead-removal filtration are available via retailer networks for households confirming conditions at a specific tap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Delray Beach
Across the years captured by NFIP data, Delray Beach has logged 1211 flood insurance claims and carries 88% of its ZIP codes within FEMA-designated flood zones — a sustained record consistent with high flood exposure. The water quality implications run through several pathways: treatment systems repeatedly stressed by high-volume intake, private wells in FEMA zones facing recurring infiltration risk, and distribution infrastructure that has likely experienced multiple backflow episodes during large events.
Delray Beach has a significant flood history with 1,211 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $3,619 per claim. With 88% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
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>$2,100</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Delray Beach, FL