Sparrows Point, MD: 2 Health Violations - Home Safety 64/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Sparrows Point: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Sparrows Point lands near the MD median for water safety - compliance results are mixed, and the city's middle-grade standing reflects genuine variability across service areas rather than one problem driving the whole picture.
How Sparrows Point Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Sparrows Point Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 9 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0027 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 67% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.61 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Sparrows Point
Most residential addresses in Sparrows Point, MD are served by a single water utility - the dominant system among the 1 provider tracked in federal data.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Sparrows Point, Maryland (population ~9,873), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 1,600,000 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Sparrows Point: C (64/100)
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
Sparrows Point water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0027 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 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 2020 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2959 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21219 | C | 9 | 2 | City of Baltimore |
All ZIP Codes in Sparrows Point
- 21219 [C] - 9 violations ⚠
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.
CDC Health Data for Sparrows Point
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Sparrows Point
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Sparrows Point's Housing Stock?
With 67% 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
Sparrows Point's housing stock is predominantly older, with a median build year of 1966 that reflects decades of construction before federal plumbing standards were tightened. The 1986 ban on lead solder and the pre-1970 era of lead service lines are both relevant benchmarks here - a significant share of the residential inventory predates one or both of those cutoffs, creating an elevated baseline for plumbing-related lead risk that aggregate water quality data may not fully reflect at the household level.
Over half of homes in Sparrows Point 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.
Sparrows Point: Remediation Cost in Perspective
When remediation costs are measured against Sparrows Point home values, the resulting ratio is in the low tier - addressing documented water and safety issues here claims only a minor fraction of typical equity, and most homeowners are in a position where the financial commitment is straightforward rather than a material burden on their household budget.
Remediation costs in Sparrows Point are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,500–$4,100 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 13% below the Maryland average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Sparrows Point
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.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 67% of the Sparrows Point inventory was built in that earlier era - a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Sparrows Point
Historical NFIP data for Sparrows Point contains 661 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $28,958. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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>$2,700</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 Sparrows Point
- 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. Filters rated for Contaminant 2020 can reduce the most common contaminant found in Sparrows Point's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 67% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Sparrows Point, MD