Lima, OH: 2 Health Violations - Home Safety 65/100
6 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Lima: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Lima's water quality grade in OH reflects a middle-ground assessment - service areas range from fully compliant to violation-flagged in current EPA records.
How Lima Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Lima Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 7 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 78% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,933 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.8 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Lima
Residential water service in Lima, OH is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 5 systems on file with federal regulators.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Lima, Ohio, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 82,983 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 5 of 6 ZIP codes.
5 of 5 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Lima: C (65/100)
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
Lima water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 5 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 6 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 5 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 3 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 3 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 3 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45807 | C | 6 | 2 | Lima City |
| 45801 | C | 5 | 2 | Lima City |
| 45805 | C | 5 | 2 | Lima City |
| 45806 | — | 3 | 2 | Lima City |
| 45804 | C | 2 | 2 | Lima City |
All ZIP Codes in Lima
- 45801 [C] - 5 violations ⚠
- 45802
- 45804 [C] - 2 violations ⚠
- 45805 [C] - 5 violations ⚠
- 45806 - 3 violations ⚠
- 45807 [C] - 6 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.
CDC Health Data for Lima
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Lima
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Lima's Housing Stock?
With 78% 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
Decades of residential development in Lima took place before the two main regulatory milestones that reduced plumbing-era lead risk: the phase-out of lead pipes before 1970, and the federal ban on lead solder in 1986. With a median build year of 1964, the housing stock here is anchored in that earlier period. The distinction between pre-1970 and 1970-to-1986 construction matters: the oldest homes may have lead pipes in the service line and lead solder in the copper joints, while the 1970-to-1986 tier still carries the solder risk even after lead pipes became less common. Together, these two risk layers affect a majority of the residential properties in the city - a fact the aggregate water quality data doesn't directly reveal.
Over half of homes in Lima 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.
Lima: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Given current Lima property values, the remediation share falls in the moderate tier - an indicator that the household financial perspective here calls for advance planning rather than dismissal, with most homeowners positioned to address documented issues through deliberate budgeting rather than needing to treat remediation as a significant equity event or financial emergency.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Lima. The estimated $1,883–$4,250 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 16% below the Ohio average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Lima
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.
Wherever 78% of local housing was built before solder rules changed - as is the case in Lima - a faucet-level sample closes the gap that aggregate utility data cannot.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Lima
Historical NFIP data for Lima contains 139 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $25,042. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 20% 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>$2,933</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.
What You Can Do in Lima
- 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. Filters rated for Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Lima's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 78% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Lima, OH