Yellow Springs, OH: High Radon Risk — 70/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Within Yellow Springs, safety indicators for tap water remain above the OH median — documented violations are infrequent and the city's compliance record sits in the upper tier.
How Yellow Springs Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Yellow Springs Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.0023 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 79% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.87 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Yellow Springs
3 independent water providers serve Yellow Springs, OH — 3 systems appear in federal records.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Yellow Springs, Ohio (population ~5,174), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 67,381 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Yellow Springs — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Yellow Springs: B (70/100)
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
Yellow Springs water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0023 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 45387 | B | Yellow Springs Village Public Water System | 3,761 |
All ZIP Codes in Yellow Springs
- 45387 [B]
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 Yellow Springs
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 Yellow Springs's Housing Stock?
With 79% 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. Yellow Springs's median build year of 1968 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in Yellow Springs 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.
Yellow Springs: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Looking at how documented remediation costs fit within Yellow Springs property values, the equity share lands in the moderate tier — a finding that positions the household financial perspective between routine maintenance and a significant budget commitment, where most homeowners can successfully address documented issues by treating the expense as a planned financial priority rather than an unexpected one.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Yellow Springs. The estimated $2,000–$4,100 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 57% above the Ohio average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Yellow Springs
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.
Even where utility-side monitoring meets Lead and Copper Rule requirements, the 79% pre-rule share in Yellow Springs keeps interior-plumbing variation as a household-level question that aggregate data cannot resolve.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Yellow Springs
Over the multi-decade window covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, Yellow Springs has accumulated 7 claims — a total that suggests more than isolated flood exposure. With 100% of ZIP codes in designated flood zones, the water-quality implications of flooding move from hypothetical to periodically relevant: treatment intake can be compromised, wells can be infiltrated, and distribution backflow can occur.
Yellow Springs has a moderate flood history with 7 FEMA claims averaging $1,630 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>$3,000</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 Yellow Springs, OH