CITY REPORT IA

Olds, IA: High Radon Risk - Home Safety Score unavailable

1 ZIP code · 0 water systems · Updated

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
0
Water Systems
N/A
ZIPs with Violations
Zone 1
Radon Risk (High)
$138K
Median Home Value
$1,200
Est. Remediation (0.9% of home value)

Olds Water: The Quick Version

  • Homes built before 1986: 73% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 14.01 - above typical levels.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Olds, Iowa, covering 0 community water system serving approximately 75 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 0 of 1 ZIP codes.

EPA water-system violation data is unavailable in the dataset used for this page for the tracked ZIP codes in Olds.

Lead & Copper

  • Lead data: not yet available for Olds
  • Lead action-level status: not available

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

All ZIP Codes in Olds

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

CDC Health Data for Olds

9.7%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
12.5%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
16.3%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 9.7% ↓
Diabetes 12.5% ↑
Mental Health 16.3% ↑

Vertical line = national average. Above national · Below national

How Old Is Olds's Housing Stock?

1954
Median Build Year
73%
Built Before 1986
60%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 73% 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

For residents trying to assess tap water risk in Olds, the median build year of 1954 is the starting context. It signals that a majority of homes were constructed before 1986 - the year federal rules prohibited lead solder in new plumbing - and that a significant share likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still a common choice for residential service connections. Neither risk tier is rare in this housing inventory.

1954
Median Year Built
73%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
60%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (60%) 1970–1986 (13%) Post-1986 (27%)

Over half of homes in Olds 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.

Olds: Remediation Cost in Perspective

Low proportionality - that's the Olds picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.

Median Home Value
$137,500
Est. Remediation
$1,200
Remediation as % of home value 0.9%

Remediation costs in Olds are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 16% below the Iowa average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Olds

73%
Homes Built Before 1986

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.

Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 73% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Olds.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to fix water issues in Olds?
Estimated remediation costs in Olds average $1,200 per household, ranging from $800 to $1,500. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
HomeCitiesIowa → Olds, IA

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Olds, IA: High Radon Risk - Home Safety Score unavailable. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ia/olds/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-ia-olds,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Olds, IA: High Radon Risk - Home Safety Score unavailable}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/ia/olds/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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