Washington Grove, MD: High Radon Risk - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Washington Grove: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Recent monitoring in Washington Grove shows middle-tier safety for MD - some systems are clean; others have logged EPA violations.
How Washington Grove Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Washington Grove Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 87% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.24.
Water Systems Serving Washington Grove
Washington Grove, MD runs on one primary water provider among the 1 federally tracked system. A single utility is responsible for the overwhelming share of residential supply - including the infrastructure, compliance filings, and rate schedules that govern service for most households.
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Washington Grove, Maryland (population ~590), 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 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Washington Grove: 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
Washington Grove 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20880 | C | Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 1,900,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Washington Grove
- 20880 [C]
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 Washington Grove
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 Old Is Washington Grove's Housing Stock?
With 87% 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
Federal plumbing rules changed in two stages - lead pipes were phased out before 1970, and lead solder was banned in 1986 - but in Washington Grove, where the median build year is 1957, most of the housing was already in place before those rules took effect. The materials installed under older standards remain embedded in a substantial portion of the residential inventory today.
Over half of homes in Washington Grove 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.
Washington Grove: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Within the Washington Grove market, estimated remediation claims a small portion of typical property equity - the financial burden is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Washington Grove are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,100–$2,300 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 39% above the Maryland average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Washington Grove
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 87% of Washington Grove 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.
What You Can Do in Washington Grove
- 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. With 87% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Washington Grove, MD