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: match a filter's certification to the violations (10 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Documented records place Lake Wales, FL in the middle grade tier.
How Lake Wales Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Lake Wales Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 208 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0035 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 51% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $833 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 14.
Water Systems Serving Lake Wales
Service in Lake Wales, FL can differ by address: 9 water systems are tied to the area in federal records, and the 3 largest are listed with their violation records.
- 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 of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 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
3 of 3 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 141 | 3 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 133 | 3 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 16 | 3 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 3 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | 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). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
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. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Some homes in Lake Wales predate the 1986 federal restrictions on lead in new pipe and solder, so a tap test is a reasonable step for older homes; median build year: 1984.
Over half of homes in Lake Wales were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. 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
Of the three cost-context tiers - low, moderate and elevated - Lake Wales is in the low one.
Estimated remediation costs in Lake Wales can be compared with local home values. The $450–$1,733 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 41% below the Florida average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Lake Wales
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
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 $833 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. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Revised Total Coliform Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Lake Wales: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- 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