Lake Wales, FL: 10 Health Violations - Home Safety 58/100
3 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Lake Wales: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (10 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Public water data for Lake Wales, FL reveals a split picture - tap water quality varies meaningfully by service area and the city's grade reflects that variability.
How Lake Wales Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Lake Wales Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 208 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0035 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 51% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,500 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Lake Wales
Multiple utilities divide Lake Wales, FL's water service - 3 leading providers among 9 on the federal register.
- D
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Lake Wales, Florida (population ~41,638), covering 9 community water systems serving approximately 120,324 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 3 ZIP codes.
3 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 10 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Lake Wales: C (58/100)
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
Lake Wales water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0035 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 3 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 141 | 3 |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 133 | 3 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 16 | 3 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 3 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33898 | C | 153 | 9 | City of Lake Wales, |
| 33859 | D | 120 | 7 | City of Lake Wales, |
| 33853 | C | 25 | 1 | City of Lake Wales, |
All ZIP Codes in Lake Wales
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 Lake Wales
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 Lake Wales
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Lake Wales's Housing Stock?
With 51% 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 character of Lake Wales's housing stock is one of deep historical layering - a median build year of 1984 signals a city built largely before the plumbing era changes of 1986 and 1970. Lead-soldered copper joints and, in the oldest properties, lead service lines are commonly present in this inventory. That context shapes what individual water testing may reveal, particularly in neighborhoods where the oldest housing is concentrated.
Over half of homes in Lake Wales 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.
Lake Wales: Remediation Cost in Perspective
How does remediation fit within the broader financial picture for Lake Wales homeowners? The equity share is moderate - large enough that treating it as a real planning consideration makes sense, and manageable enough that most homeowners have a clear path to addressing documented water and safety issues when they approach the commitment with deliberate advance budgeting rather than as an unplanned expense.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Lake Wales. The estimated $1,350–$3,967 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 41% below the Florida average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Lake Wales
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.
51% - that captures the slice of Lake Wales housing dating from before the federal ban on solder containing lead. It pairs with aggregate utility readings that either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L, the benchmark set under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. Together, the two figures shift one-home reads into a standard household-level confirmation, particularly for families with kids. A certified lead-removal filter is available through retailer-verified channels if a kit returns results that warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Lake Wales
Historical NFIP data for Lake Wales contains 140 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $32,203. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 67% 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>$2,500</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 Lake Wales
- 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 Consumer Confidence Report Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Lake Wales's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 51% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Lake Wales, FL