CITY REPORT HI

Honolulu, HI Water Safety: 100/100

41 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Honolulu: A.

No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.

Tap water in Honolulu, HI scores well - low violation counts, above-average safety grade.

Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS

41
ZIP Codes
4
Water Systems
0
ZIPs with Violations
A · 100
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
Radon Risk (Low)

Water Quality in Honolulu

We track home safety signals for 41 ZIP codes in Honolulu, Hawaii. EPA community-water data is directly mapped for 12 ZIP codes and 4 water systems.

The available EPA records report no violations across 12 directly mapped ZIP records with reported counts in Honolulu. This measured subset does not cover ZIP records without a confirmed EPA system mapping.

Average Home Safety Score: A (100/100)

Water sources: Groundwater.

Lead Risk

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 mg/L
  • 0 of 12 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
  • 75% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
  • 8% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
  • Median year built: 1973
  • Most common estimated pipe material: Copper
  • Lead exposure risk score: 55/100
  • Estimated lead service line probability: 23%
  • 9 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk

With 75% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, Honolulu residents - especially those in older neighborhoods - should consider testing their tap water for lead. Homes built before 1950 are at the highest risk of having lead service lines.

Housing Age Distribution

181,191 total housing units across 41 ZIP codes:

Era Units Share
Pre-1940 8,058 4%
1940–1949 9,203 5%
1950–1959 20,735 11%
1960–1969 36,505 20%
1970–1979 46,330 26%
1980–1989 19,360 11%
1990–1999 15,135 8%
2000–2009 13,304 7%
2010–2019 12,300 7%
2020+ 261 0%

Flood Risk

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for Honolulu:

  • 1,169 flood insurance claims on record
  • $36,635,288 sum of reported building, contents, and ICC payment components
  • 798 claims with payment data
  • 371 claims without reported payment fields
  • $45,909 average reported component sum among claims with payment data
  • Dominant rated-zone value in historical claims: X (other)
  • 9 of 16 ZIP codes with claim-zone records have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims
  • Claim-zone values are historical insurance records, not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory

Radon Risk

Dominant EPA radon zone among 41 ZIP records with zone data: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

  • Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
  • Zone 3 (Low): 41 ZIP codes

Neighborhoods by Safety Score

Safest Areas

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
96813 100/100 A 0
96814 100/100 A 0
96815 100/100 A 0
96816 100/100 A 0
96817 100/100 A 0
96818 100/100 A 0
96819 100/100 A 0
96821 100/100 A 0
96822 100/100 A 0
96825 100/100 A 0

Areas Needing Attention

ZIP Code Safety Score Grade Violations
96826 100/100 A 0

What Honolulu Residents Can Do

Test Your Water

  • Order a certified lab test - home test kits cost $20–50 and cover lead, bacteria, and common contaminants
  • Request your utility's CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) - your water provider must publish this annually
  • Check your ZIP code - each area in Honolulu has different water systems and risk levels

Filter Your Water

  • NSF-certified pitcher filter removes chlorine taste and some contaminants ($20–40)
  • NSF 53-certified filter for lead - recommended for homes built before 1986
  • Reverse osmosis system removes 95%+ of contaminants including lead, PFAS, and nitrates ($150–400)

Stay Informed

All ZIP Codes in Honolulu

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the tap water safe to drink in Honolulu, HI?

The Home Safety Score is not a drinking-water grade. Honolulu has an average score of 100/100 (grade A) across 11 ZIP codes with complete current-model evidence. Separately, the available EPA records report no violations across 12 ZIP records with reported counts. Check the specific ZIP and serving utility before drawing a water-safety conclusion.

Does Honolulu have lead in the water?

The average 90th-percentile lead level across Honolulu is 0.0000 mg/L, below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. 0 of 12 ZIP codes with known action-level status exceed the EPA limit. About 75% of housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was banned.

Is Honolulu at risk for flooding?

FEMA data shows 1,169 flood insurance claim records in Honolulu ZIP codes, with an average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum of $45,909 among 798 claims with payment data. 371 claims lack reported payment fields and are not counted as zero. Among 16 ZIP codes with historical claim-zone values, 9 have an A/V-family dominant rated zone in those claims. Claim records do not establish current property-level flood risk; check the FEMA map for a specific address.

Are there lead pipes in Honolulu homes?

75% of Honolulu housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 8% was built before 1950, when lead pipes were standard. The most common estimated pipe material is Copper. The estimated probability of lead service lines is 23%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.

Data Sources

Source reporting periods vary. See each cited source for its publication schedule.

Honolulu Infrastructure Age

1973
Median Build Year
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

Median build year of 1973 means many homes predate lead paint and lead solder regulations. Consider testing if your home has original plumbing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

Congress banned lead solder in residential plumbing in 1986, drawing a clear line in housing risk by era. Honolulu's median build year of 1973 puts most of its residential stock on the newer side of that boundary - a profile that generally correlates with lower plumbing-sourced lead exposure across the city.

1973
Median Year Built
0%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
0%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Most homes in Honolulu 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.

Honolulu: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

1,169
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$45,909
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
56%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Honolulu contains 1,169 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $45,909. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 56% 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.

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 Honolulu, HI

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Honolulu, HI?
Honolulu has an average Home Safety Score of 100/100 (Grade A) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. The available EPA record reports no violations for ZIP codes with reported counts. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many water systems serve Honolulu?
Honolulu is served by 4 public water systems across 41 ZIP codes, serving approximately 415,471 people.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Honolulu, HI Water Safety: 100/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/hi/honolulu/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-hi-honolulu,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Honolulu, HI Water Safety: 100/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/hi/honolulu/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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