Miami Gardens, FL Water Safety: 45/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Although conditions vary by service area, Miami Gardens's water systems collectively show below-average compliance within FL — health-based violations are documented throughout the city, and the overall grade reflects a pattern rather than isolated incidents.
How Miami Gardens Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Miami Gardens Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 76% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.77.
Water Systems Serving Miami Gardens
Across Miami Gardens, FL, residential water comes from 2 primary utilities rather than a single consolidated provider. Each system operates independently — managing its own distribution infrastructure, rate schedules, and EPA compliance filings. Federal records track 2 water systems in the area, with these top providers accounting for the majority of residential connections.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Miami Gardens, Florida (population ~37,318), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 2,557,460 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Miami Gardens — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Miami Gardens: D (45/100)
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
Miami Gardens water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Miami Gardens
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 33056 | D | MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM | 2,377,460 |
All ZIP Codes in Miami Gardens
- 33056 [D]
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.
CDC Health Data for Miami Gardens
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
How Old Is Miami Gardens's Housing Stock?
With 76% 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
Pre-1986 plumbing is not a rare legacy case in Miami Gardens — it's the dominant profile. The median build year of 1979 indicates a housing stock where lead-soldered copper joints are a common structural feature of residences across the city.
Over half of homes in Miami Gardens 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.
Miami Gardens: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The household financial picture for Miami Gardens homeowners is proportionally favorable — addressing documented issues claims a small slice of equity, and the cost-to-value ratio puts this area well within the manageable tier.
Remediation costs in Miami Gardens are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$3,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 2% below the Florida average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Miami Gardens
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.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Miami Gardens have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 76% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Miami Gardens
The National Flood Insurance Program builds its dataset one claim at a time — each filed claim represents a property where flood damage was severe enough to trigger an insurance payout. For Miami Gardens, that dataset has accumulated 615 such events across the program's multi-decade history. 100% of ZIP codes here carry official FEMA flood zone designations, reflecting federal assessments of where flood risk is concentrated. Together, those data points describe a community with a documented, substantial flood exposure — the kind that shapes not just property risk but also the periodic reliability of water supply infrastructure. When flood events reach that scale, treatment systems face peak-load contamination stress, private wells become vulnerable to surface water intrusion, and the distribution network can experience backflow conditions that allow untreated water to re-enter the system.
Miami Gardens has a significant flood history with 615 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $3,999 per claim. With 100% 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>$2,200</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.
What You Can Do in Miami Gardens
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 76% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Miami Gardens, FL