Cascade, MD: High Radon Risk - Home Safety Score unavailable
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Cascade Water
- Average lead level: 0.0039 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 82% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $5,620 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.16 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Cascade
A single dominant system supplies most of Cascade, MD. That utility controls infrastructure decisions, rate structures, and EPA compliance reporting for most residential addresses served across those 1 tracked system.
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Cascade, Maryland, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 1,162 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.
Water Sources
Cascade water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0039 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21719 | — | Highfield | 1,141 |
All ZIP Codes in Cascade
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.
Health Outcomes in Cascade
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
Housing & Infrastructure in Cascade
With 82% 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
When a city's housing median build year is 1900, as in Cascade, the implication for water quality research is straightforward: municipal-level data captures what leaves the treatment plant, but household plumbing from before 1986 determines what actually arrives at the tap. In cities where older housing predominates, that gap between system-level and household-level data is widest.
Over half of homes in Cascade 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Cascade Homeowners
Across the Cascade housing market, the estimated remediation share sits at an elevated level - the cost-to-value ratio here is high enough that addressing documented water and safety issues becomes a material equity decision rather than routine maintenance, and most homeowners benefit from treating it as a structured financial planning exercise.
At 2.4% of home value, remediation costs in Cascade represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $3,430–$7,960. Home values here are 46% below the Maryland average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Cascade
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.
When older housing represents 82% of the local inventory or aggregate readings approach the federal action level, an in-home check becomes the standard way to translate citywide averages into the specific reality of an individual Cascade address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Cascade, MD