Riverhead, NY: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 72/100
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Riverhead: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Tap water in Riverhead, NY scores well - low violation counts, above-average safety grade.
How Riverhead Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Riverhead Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 32 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 58% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,100 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.13.
Who Supplies Your Water in Riverhead
3 independent water providers serve Riverhead, NY - 4 systems appear in federal records.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Riverhead, New York (population ~32,921), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 1,135,972 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Riverhead: B (72/100)
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
Riverhead water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0030 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 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Copper | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Uranium | Radionuclides | 2 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2005 | Other | 2 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2010 | Other | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11901 | B | 32 | 1 | Riverhead Water District |
All ZIP Codes in Riverhead
- 11901 [B] - 32 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.
Health Outcomes in Riverhead
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
Top Contaminants in Riverhead Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Riverhead
With 58% 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
When more than half a city's housing predates the 1986 federal ban on lead solder, plumbing-era lead risk becomes a citywide concern rather than an exception. Riverhead's median build year of 1971 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in Riverhead 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 Riverhead Homeowners
Across Riverhead, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small - a favorable ratio for most property owners.
Remediation costs in Riverhead are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,350–$3,200 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 21% above the New York average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Riverhead
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.
Routinely in Riverhead, where 58% of housing predates the solder ban and aggregate utility readings hover near the federal threshold, a faucet-level draw functions as a standard household step for families with small kids.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Riverhead
Historical NFIP data for Riverhead contains 510 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $22,757. 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>$2,100</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 Riverhead, NY