Okeechobee, FL: 3 Health Violations — 88/100 (2026)
3 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Residents of Okeechobee generally live with tap water that beats the FL safety average on key EPA compliance metrics.
How Okeechobee Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Okeechobee Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 306 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0054 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 47% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,433 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 16.08 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Okeechobee
Residential addresses in Okeechobee, FL are served by 3 primary water providers out of 9 systems in federal records. Each system maintains separate infrastructure and files its own EPA compliance reports, so service conditions are not uniform across the city.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Okeechobee, Florida (population ~43,179), covering 9 community water systems serving approximately 156,865 people region-wide.
3 of 3 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Okeechobee: A (88/100)
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
Okeechobee water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0054 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 3 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 164 | 3 |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 152 | 3 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 24 | 3 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 20 | 3 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 16 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34972 | B | 102 | 1 | Okeechobee Utility Authority |
| 34973 | A | 102 | 1 | Okeechobee Utility Authority |
| 34974 | B | 102 | 1 | Okeechobee Utility Authority |
All ZIP Codes in Okeechobee
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 Okeechobee
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 Okeechobee
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Okeechobee's Housing Stock?
With 47% 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
Two regulatory milestones define plumbing-era risk in residential housing: 1970, when lead pipes were still commonly installed for service lines, and 1986, when lead solder was banned from new copper plumbing. A median build year of 1983 places Okeechobee in the middle zone between those thresholds — with a meaningful share of housing predating both cutoffs. The distribution shown above breaks out those eras explicitly, clarifying where concentrated risk sits across the residential inventory.
Most homes in Okeechobee 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.
Okeechobee: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Property equity in Okeechobee runs well ahead of estimated remediation costs — a cost-to-value ratio that sits in the low tier, meaning documented water and safety issues here are the kind homeowners can plan to address without treating the expense as a significant budget event relative to what their homes are worth.
Remediation costs in Okeechobee are relatively low compared to home values. The $883–$2,333 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 43% below the Florida average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Okeechobee
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.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 47% of the Okeechobee inventory was built in that earlier era — a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Okeechobee
Flood exposure in Okeechobee is meaningful by NFIP measures — 341 claims on record and 67% of ZIP codes carrying FEMA flood zone designations. That level of activity makes flood history a relevant factor when evaluating local water quality over time.
Okeechobee has a moderate flood history with 341 FEMA claims averaging $7,207 per payout. 67% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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>$1,433</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Okeechobee, FL