Bethesda, MD: High Radon Risk - Home Safety 67/100
11 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Bethesda: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Public water data for Bethesda, MD reveals a split picture - tap water quality varies meaningfully by service area and the city's grade reflects that variability.
How Bethesda Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Bethesda Residents
- Estimated remediation: $1,709 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.24.
Bethesda's Water Providers
Federal drinking water records identify 1 system operating in Bethesda, MD. One of those systems serves the overwhelming majority of residential addresses, concentrating infrastructure management, rate authority, and EPA compliance reporting within a single organization.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 11 ZIP codes in Bethesda, Maryland (population ~86,851), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 1,900,000 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 6 of 11 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 6 ZIP codes with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Bethesda: C (67/100)
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
Bethesda water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 6 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 11 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20814 | C | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20816 | C | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20817 | C | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20889 | — | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20892 | C | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20894 | — | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Bethesda
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.
Bethesda Community Health Snapshot
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
How Remediation Costs Compare in Bethesda
At current valuations, Bethesda sits in the low remediation-share tier - the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.
Remediation costs in Bethesda are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,127–$2,282 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 167% above the Maryland average.
Bethesda: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Bethesda contains 133 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $13,573. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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>$1,709</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.
What You Can Do in Bethesda
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Bethesda, MD