Portsmouth, OH: 9 Violations - Home Safety 62/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Portsmouth: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Portsmouth, OH: a C, mid-scale.
How Portsmouth Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Portsmouth Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 9 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0046 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 90% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 16.72.
Who Supplies Your Water in Portsmouth
3 systems shown for Portsmouth, OH, from 5 on the federal list.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Portsmouth, Ohio (population ~26,972), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 60,661 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Portsmouth: C (62/100)
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
Portsmouth water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0046 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
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 4 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45662 | C | 9 | 0 | Portsmouth City |
All ZIP Codes in Portsmouth
- 45662 [C] - 9 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 Portsmouth
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Portsmouth Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Portsmouth
With 90% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Median construction year in Portsmouth: 1956, set against the 1986 federal lead limits for new plumbing.
Over half of homes in Portsmouth were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. 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 Portsmouth Homeowners
Compared with typical property prices, the remediation estimate for Portsmouth is small in percentage terms - at or under one percent.
Estimated remediation costs in Portsmouth can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 47% below the Ohio average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Portsmouth
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Portsmouth
Historical NFIP data for Portsmouth contains 91 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $4,549. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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 $500 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 Portsmouth
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, listed in the water-quality records for Portsmouth: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 90% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Portsmouth, OH