Gaithersburg, MD: High Radon Risk - Home Safety 67/100
9 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Gaithersburg: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Safe water is the norm across most of Gaithersburg, MD - but documented violations push the city to the middle safety tier.
How Gaithersburg Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Gaithersburg Water
- Estimated remediation: $2,122 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.24.
Who Supplies Your Water in Gaithersburg
Across most of Gaithersburg, MD, residential water comes from a single utility. That provider sets rates, manages infrastructure maintenance, and files compliance reports with the EPA on behalf of the households it serves. Federal tracking data shows 1 system on record, but one carries the bulk of the service load.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 9 ZIP codes in Gaithersburg, Maryland (population ~144,191), 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 5 of 9 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 5 ZIP codes with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Gaithersburg: 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
Gaithersburg 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 5 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20877 | C | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20878 | C | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20879 | C | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20882 | C | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20899 | — | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Gaithersburg
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 Gaithersburg
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
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Gaithersburg Homeowners
Setting Gaithersburg remediation figures against its property market, the resulting ratio sits comfortably in the low tier - a classification that reflects the kind of household financial position where most homeowners can identify documented issues, schedule the work, and absorb the cost without it registering as a significant budget disruption.
Remediation costs in Gaithersburg are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,389–$2,922 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 58% above the Maryland average.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Gaithersburg
Historical NFIP data for Gaithersburg contains 36 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $6,629. 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>$2,122</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 Gaithersburg
- 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 Gaithersburg, MD