Palatka, FL: Lead Above EPA Limits - Home Safety 93/100
2 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Palatka: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Public water monitoring in Palatka shows a safety record well above the FL median - health-based violations are isolated exceptions rather than recurring patterns, the city's systems have stayed compliant across recent reporting cycles, and no cluster of recurring exceedances appears in any single service area.
How Palatka Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Palatka Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 36 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0168 mg/L - exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 16.69 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Palatka
Most residential addresses in Palatka, FL are served by a single water utility - the dominant system among the 1 provider tracked in federal data.
- A
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Palatka, Florida, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 26,046 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 2 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 16 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Palatka: A (93/100)
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
Palatka water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0168 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 of 1 ZIP code with known status 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): 2 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 40 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 12 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 6 | 1 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32177 | A | 36 | 16 | R.c. Willis Wtp (city of Palatka) |
All ZIP Codes in Palatka
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 Palatka
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 Palatka
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Palatka: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Within the Palatka market, estimated remediation claims a small portion of typical property equity - the financial burden is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Palatka are relatively low compared to home values. The $700–$2,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 53% below the Florida average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Palatka
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.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
<strong>1 ZIP code</strong> (50% of the city) exceeds the EPA lead action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Palatka
Historical NFIP data for Palatka contains 91 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $23,914. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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>$1,200</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 Palatka, FL