Hyattsville, MD: High Radon Risk - Home Safety 83/100
7 ZIP codes · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Hyattsville: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Residents of Hyattsville generally live with tap water that beats the MD safety average on key EPA compliance metrics.
How Hyattsville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Hyattsville, MD
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Hyattsville score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Hyattsville Water
- Homes built before 1986: 78% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,257 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.05 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Hyattsville
Consolidated water delivery characterizes Hyattsville, MD: among 1 system in federal records, one utility holds the dominant service position - carrying the rate-setting authority, the infrastructure obligations, and the EPA reporting burden for most residential addresses.
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 7 ZIP codes in Hyattsville, Maryland (population ~172,030), 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 7 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 Hyattsville: B (83/100)
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
Hyattsville 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): 5 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20781 | B | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20782 | B | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20783 | B | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20784 | B | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
| 20785 | B | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Hyattsville
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 Hyattsville
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 Hyattsville
With 78% 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
The lead that enters tap water in older homes often comes not from the municipal supply but from the home's own plumbing - from solder used in copper joints before the 1986 federal ban, or from lead pipes installed before 1970. In Hyattsville, where the median build year is 1965, these older materials are widespread. More than half the residential stock predates the 1986 solder ban, and a significant fraction predates 1970 as well. For residents in those homes, the city-wide water quality picture is a less relevant frame than the specific materials inside their own walls and under their own street.
Over half of homes in Hyattsville 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 Hyattsville Homeowners
Low proportionality - that's the Hyattsville picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Hyattsville are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,400–$3,271 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 6% below the Maryland average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Hyattsville
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.
Although utility-side compliance with federal Lead and Copper requirements remains the system reference, that compliance does not extend down into interior plumbing. With 78% of Hyattsville stock built before the solder ban and aggregate readings at or beyond the action mark, a household-level sample becomes the practical way to close that information gap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Hyattsville
Historical NFIP data for Hyattsville contains 241 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $10,461. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 40% 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>$2,257</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Hyattsville, MD