Linwood, NJ Water Safety: 60/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Linwood lands near the NJ 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 Linwood Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Linwood Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 73% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.5 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Linwood
Residential addresses in Linwood, NJ are served by 3 primary water providers out of 3 systems in federal records. Each system maintains separate infrastructure and files its own EPA compliance reports, so service conditions are not uniform across the city.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Linwood, New Jersey (population ~6,954), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 257,923 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Linwood — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Linwood: C (60/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Linwood water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Linwood
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08221 | C | Nj American Water - Atlantic County | 120,146 |
All ZIP Codes in Linwood
- 08221 [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
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Linwood
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 Linwood's Housing Stock?
With 73% 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
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Linwood is predominantly an older city — a median build year of 1962 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.
Over half of homes in Linwood 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.
Linwood: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Remediation costs in Linwood are small relative to typical property values — the cost-to-value ratio here is favorable.
Remediation costs in Linwood are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 27% below the New Jersey average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Linwood
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.
Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 73% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Linwood.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Linwood
FEMA data shows 100% of Linwood's ZIP codes mapped into designated flood zones, paired with an NFIP record of 97 claims. That footprint places local flood exposure in the range where it warrants attention without rising to high-severity planning territory.
Linwood has a moderate flood history with 97 FEMA claims averaging $17,148 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,800</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Linwood
- 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 73% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Linwood, NJ