Ocala, FL: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 60/100
14 ZIP codes · 31 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Ocala: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Water monitoring across Ocala paints a mid-range picture within FL - solid compliance in some service zones, documented concerns in others. Most violations on record are concentrated in specific areas, and the overall grade has held in the middle tier without major shifts in recent monitoring cycles.
How Ocala Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Ocala, FL
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of Home Safety grades across Ocala.
Ocala Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 92 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0049 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 41% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,507 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 15.21 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Ocala
Residential water in Ocala, 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 31 water systems in the area, with these providers collectively accounting for the dominant share of household connections.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 14 ZIP codes in Ocala, Florida, covering 31 community water systems serving approximately 253,459 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 11 of 14 ZIP codes.
11 of 11 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Ocala: C (60/100)
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
Ocala water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0049 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 11 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): 14 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 56 | 11 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 43 | 9 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 30 | 11 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 20 | 8 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 20 | 8 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34475 | D | 27 | 1 | Ocala, City of (2 Wtps) |
| 34470 | C | 23 | 0 | Ocala, City of (2 Wtps) |
| 34472 | C | 23 | 0 | Belleview, City of (3 Wps) |
| 34479 | C | 19 | 0 | Ocala, City of (2 Wtps) |
| 34480 | C | 19 | 0 | Ocala, City of (2 Wtps) |
| 34482 | C | 18 | 1 | Ocala, City of (2 Wtps) |
| 34471 | C | 13 | 0 | Ocala, City of (2 Wtps) |
| 34476 | C | 12 | 0 | West Side Consolidated |
| 34474 | C | 11 | 1 | Ocala, City of (2 Wtps) |
| 34473 | C | 9 | 0 | West Side Consolidated |
All ZIP Codes in Ocala
- 34470 [C] - 23 violations
- 34471 [C] - 13 violations
- 34472 [C] - 23 violations
- 34473 [C] - 9 violations
- 34474 [C] - 11 violations ⚠
- 34475 [D] - 27 violations ⚠
- 34476 [C] - 12 violations
- 34477
- 34478
- 34479 [C] - 19 violations
- 34480 [C] - 19 violations
- 34481 [C] - 8 violations
- 34482 [C] - 18 violations ⚠
- 34483
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 Ocala
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 Ocala
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Ocala's Housing Stock?
With 41% 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
Ocala's residential inventory spans multiple construction eras, with the median build year of 1991 landing in a zone where pre- and post-1986 homes are both well represented. That split matters because homes built before 1986 may contain lead-soldered copper joints - a plumbing practice banned that year - while those built before 1970 face the additional possibility of lead pipes in the service line. Whether a specific household sits on the older or newer end of this distribution is the primary variable shaping its individual exposure risk.
Most homes in Ocala were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Ocala: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The Ocala equity share sits above the low tier but short of the range where remediation becomes a heavy financial burden - the cost-to-value ratio is moderate, and deliberate planning is the key practical lever for most homeowners.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Ocala. The estimated $1,314–$4,479 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 37% below the Florida average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Ocala
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 Ocala. 41% 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.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Ocala
Historical NFIP data for Ocala contains 138 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $52,706. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 70% 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>$2,507</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 Ocala
- 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 Total Coliform can reduce the most common contaminant found in Ocala's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 41% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Ocala, FL