Opa Locka, FL: 50 Violations — 52/100 (2026)
2 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Unlike better-scoring cities in FL, Opa Locka records health-based violations across a meaningful portion of its service areas — the overall safety grade is well below average.
How Opa Locka Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Opa Locka Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 50 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0009 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 84% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.77.
Water Systems Serving Opa Locka
Residential addresses in Opa Locka, FL are served by 3 primary water providers out of 4 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 2 ZIP codes in Opa Locka, Florida (population ~68,391), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 2,811,939 people region-wide.
2 of 2 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Opa Locka: D (52/100)
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
Opa Locka water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0009 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 60 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 2 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33054 | D | 25 | 0 | City of Opa Locka, |
| 33055 | D | 25 | 0 | MDWASA - MAIN SYSTEM |
All ZIP Codes in Opa Locka
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 Opa Locka
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 Opa Locka
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Opa Locka's Housing Stock?
With 84% 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
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Opa Locka is predominantly an older city — a median build year of 1972 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.
Over half of homes in Opa Locka 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.
Opa Locka: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Within the Opa Locka market, estimated remediation claims a small portion of typical property equity — the financial burden is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Opa Locka 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 1% above the Florida average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Opa Locka
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.
Practically, the structural drivers in Opa Locka — 84% pre-rule stock and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory benchmark — make an in-home draw the practical way to translate aggregate averages into the specific conditions at one address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Opa Locka
Across the multi-decade NFIP program, Opa Locka has logged 1396 filed flood claims — a tally that corresponds with 100% of local ZIP codes carrying FEMA flood zone designations. For water quality, the implications extend beyond property damage: when flooding reaches the magnitude this area's record implies, water supply systems face compounding stress. Treatment plants handling contaminated floodwater intake face sharply elevated contaminant loads. Private wells in low-lying FEMA zones are vulnerable to surface infiltration during each major event. Distribution networks can experience pressure-inversion backflow, drawing untreated water back into the supply. These are not remote possibilities at this exposure level.
Opa Locka has a significant flood history with 1,396 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $10,411 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 Opa Locka
- 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 Consumer Confidence Report Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Opa Locka's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 84% 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 Opa Locka, FL