Data: EPA ECHO, Census ACS, NTSB Last verified: 2026-05-03

What is infrastructure decay probability?

Infrastructure decay probability estimates the likelihood of water pipe deterioration based on pipe age, material type, violation history, and environmental conditions. Higher probability means greater risk of water main breaks, pressure drops, and contamination from aging pipes. The national average hovers around 30-40%. Valley Stream's average is 50%.

What are CO/gas incidents?

Carbon monoxide (CO) and gas incidents tracked by the NTSB include pipeline failures, gas leaks, and CO exposure events. CO is odorless and can be fatal — the CDC reports about 420 deaths annually from unintentional CO poisoning. Every home should have working CO detectors on each floor, tested monthly. Valley Stream has 6 recorded incidents in the NTSB database.

Infrastructure Risk Distribution

How Valley Stream's {totalZips} ZIP codes are distributed by infrastructure risk level:

Low 0 ZIPs

Moderate 0 ZIPs

High 2 ZIPs

Very High 0 ZIPs

Infrastructure Risk Overview

Valley Stream, New York has high infrastructure risk with an average decay probability of 50%. Significant portions of the water system are aging and may be at risk of failure.

Infrastructure decay probability measures the likelihood of pipe failure, water main breaks, and system degradation based on pipe age, material, violation history, and environmental factors.

Key Infrastructure Metrics

Metric	Value
Decay probability	50%
Risk level	high
Water systems	2
Median build year	1956
Pre-1986 housing	94%
CO/gas incidents	6
ZIP codes	3
Population	44,700

Infrastructure Risk Distribution

How Valley Stream's 3 ZIP codes are distributed by infrastructure risk level:

100% of Valley Stream's ZIP codes are in the high or very-high risk category. This indicates widespread aging infrastructure that may be prone to failures.

Water System Age and Pipe Materials

The median home in Valley Stream was built in 1956 (approximately 70 years old). Housing age is one of the strongest proxies for water infrastructure age, as service lines and interior plumbing were typically installed during construction.

Pipe material risks by era:

With 94% of Valley Stream's homes built before 1986, a significant portion of residential plumbing may contain lead solder or aging pipe materials.

Carbon Monoxide & Gas Safety

6 CO/gas incidents have been recorded in the county covering Valley Stream. The average CO risk score is 4 out of 100.

Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless — it is the leading cause of poisoning deaths in the U.S. Risk factors include:

• Gas furnaces, water heaters, and stoves
• Attached garages
• Blocked chimneys or vents
• Portable generators used indoors

Prevention:

• Install CO detectors on every level, especially near bedrooms
• Have gas appliances inspected annually
• Never run generators, grills, or cars in enclosed spaces
• Replace CO detectors every 5-7 years

What Homeowners Can Do

Pipe Inspection

• Hire a licensed plumber to inspect your service line and interior plumbing
• Check for discolored water (brown/orange = rust; white/cloudy = air or sediment)
• Test water pressure — low pressure may indicate buildup in aging pipes
• Look for visible corrosion on exposed pipes in basement or utility areas

Water Heater Maintenance

• Flush your water heater annually to remove sediment
• Check the anode rod every 2-3 years (prevents tank corrosion)
• Set temperature to 120F to prevent scalding and reduce energy use
• Replace water heaters older than 10-15 years proactively

CO Detector Placement

• One detector per floor, minimum
• Within 10 feet of each bedroom door
• Near attached garage and utility room
• 5 feet above the floor (CO rises with warm air) or on the ceiling
• Not near windows, doors, or HVAC vents (air movement causes false readings)

Valley Stream vs. Nearby New York Cities

How Valley Stream's infrastructure compares to nearby cities:

ZIP Codes in Valley Stream

Valley Stream covers 3 ZIP codes served by 2 water systems. Infrastructure condition varies by ZIP code based on housing age, pipe material, and water system maintenance. Check your specific ZIP code for localized data.

Data Sources

• Water systems: EPA ECHO — Enforcement and Compliance History Online
• Infrastructure risk: Derived model (housing age, violation history, system assessments)
• Housing age: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
• CO/gas incidents: NTSB, PHMSA pipeline incident reports

Updated daily.

Infrastructure Risk by ZIP Code in Valley Stream

Infrastructure risk varies across Valley Stream's 3 ZIP codes based on system age, pipe materials, and violation history.

ZIP Code	Grade	Score	Violations
11581	D	50/100	0	View report →
11580	C	60/100	0	View report →
11582	C	66/100	0	View report →