Spencer, OK: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 75/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Spencer: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Spencer, OK scores in the upper band of the ZipCheckup grade.
How Spencer Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Spencer Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 266 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0322 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
- Homes built before 1986: 68% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $5,180 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.25.
Water Systems Serving Spencer
Among 5 systems linked to Spencer, OK, the 3 biggest by population served appear below.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Spencer, Oklahoma (population ~6,296), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 709,334 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. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Spencer: B (75/100)
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
Spencer water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0322 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 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 3.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Endrin | Organic | 20 | 1 |
| BHC-gamma (Lindane) | Organic | 20 | 1 |
| Methoxychlor | Organic | 20 | 1 |
| Heptachlor | Organic | 20 | 1 |
| Heptachlor epoxide | Organic | 20 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 73084 | B | 266 | 3 | Spencer |
All ZIP Codes in Spencer
- 73084 [B] - 266 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 Spencer
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Spencer
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Spencer's Housing Stock?
With 68% 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
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Spencer has a median build year of 1974; houses completed ahead of 1986 can hold lead-bearing solder or fittings.
Over half of homes in Spencer 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.
Spencer: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Relative to home prices, Spencer remediation estimates run high.
Estimated remediation costs in Spencer equal about 4.5% of the median home value; how much that burdens a household depends on its finances. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $3,320–$7,740. Home values here are 20% below the Oklahoma average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Spencer
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.
No safe blood lead level in children has been identified, CDC says. In Spencer, the mean across ZIP codes of what water systems reported as their 90th-percentile lead results sits above 0.015 mg/L, and 68% of homes were built before 1986. A test of the tap a child drinks from shows the level in that home.
1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Spencer
Historical NFIP data for Spencer contains 16 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $35,044. 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 $5,180 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 Spencer, OK