Glen Cove, NY Water Safety: 85/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Water systems serving Glen Cove hold a strong EPA compliance record — the city places among the better-performing areas in NY with few health-based violations on file.
How Glen Cove Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Glen Cove Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.0039 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 80% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.69.
Water Systems Serving Glen Cove
3 water utilities share the residential service territory in Glen Cove, NY — out of 3 total systems in federal records.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Glen Cove, New York (population ~29,020), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 99,400 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Glen Cove — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Glen Cove: A (85/100)
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
Glen Cove water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0039 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11542 | A | Glen Cove City | 28,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Glen Cove
- 11542 [A]
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 Glen Cove
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 Glen Cove's Housing Stock?
With 80% 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
While newer cities carry lower aggregate plumbing risk from lead-era construction, Glen Cove sits firmly in the older category. The median build year of 1951 indicates that more than half the housing stock was built before 1986, when lead solder was still legally used in residential copper plumbing — and a substantial portion likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still commonly installed for service lines. These two thresholds together define the elevated plumbing risk environment that older housing cities carry, independent of what the municipal water supply delivers to the meter.
Over half of homes in Glen Cove 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.
Glen Cove: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Setting Glen Cove 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 Glen Cove 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 82% above the New York average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Glen Cove
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 80% of Glen Cove 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.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Glen Cove
Although Glen Cove's flood history doesn't reach high-severity thresholds, NFIP data documents 186 claims and FEMA maps place 100% of ZIP codes in designated flood zones — a combined profile that makes flood-related water quality considerations a reasonable planning baseline.
Glen Cove has a moderate flood history with 186 FEMA claims averaging $18,628 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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Glen Cove, NY