Lakeland, FL: 4 Health Violations - Home Safety 72/100
13 ZIP codes · 14 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Lakeland: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Although water quality varies across any metro, Lakeland's systems collectively post above-average compliance scores for FL - and documented violations are few.
How Lakeland Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Lakeland, FL
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Lakeland score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Lakeland Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 164 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0018 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 50% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,092 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.11 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Lakeland
Residential water service in Lakeland, FL is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 14 systems on file with federal regulators.
- B
- C
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 13 ZIP codes in Lakeland, Florida, covering 14 community water systems serving approximately 269,002 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 9 of 13 ZIP codes.
9 of 9 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 4 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Lakeland: B (72/100)
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
Lakeland water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0018 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 9 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): 12 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 1 ZIP code
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 | 212 | 9 |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 82 | 6 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 20 | 9 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 16 | 5 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 13 | 5 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33809 | C | 53 | 0 | City of Lakeland, |
| 33810 | C | 52 | 0 | Northwest |
| 33803 | C | 45 | 1 | City of Lakeland, |
| 33813 | C | 41 | 2 | City of Lakeland, |
| 33801 | C | 40 | 1 | City of Lakeland, |
| 33811 | C | 38 | 1 | Southwest/polk County Utility |
| 33812 | B | 21 | 0 | City of Lakeland, |
| 33805 | B | 16 | 0 | City of Lakeland, |
| 33815 | B | 6 | 0 | City of Lakeland, |
All ZIP Codes in Lakeland
- 33801 [C] - 40 violations ⚠
- 33802
- 33803 [C] - 45 violations ⚠
- 33804
- 33805 [B] - 16 violations
- 33806
- 33807
- 33809 [C] - 53 violations
- 33810 [C] - 52 violations
- 33811 [C] - 38 violations ⚠
- 33812 [B] - 21 violations
- 33813 [C] - 41 violations ⚠
- 33815 [B] - 6 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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Lakeland
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 Lakeland Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Lakeland
With 50% 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
Federal plumbing rules changed in two stages - lead pipes were phased out before 1970, and lead solder was banned in 1986 - but in Lakeland, where the median build year is 1984, most of the housing was already in place before those rules took effect. The materials installed under older standards remain embedded in a substantial portion of the residential inventory today.
Over half of homes in Lakeland 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 Lakeland Homeowners
In Lakeland, property values comfortably outpace what documented remediation typically costs - the equity share is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Lakeland are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,131–$3,215 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 27% below the Florida average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Lakeland
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.
Reading the local data together points toward a structural gap that matters more here than in low-exposure communities. 50% of Lakeland stock comes from the pre-rule era, and citywide monitoring either approaches or sits beyond the federal benchmark under Lead and Copper Rule sampling. A baseline kit fits the routine-diligence category, with certified filtration available via retailer networks where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Lakeland
Historical NFIP data for Lakeland contains 776 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $54,620. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 45% 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>$2,092</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 Lakeland, FL