Bend, OR: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 79/100
6 ZIP codes · 14 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Bend: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
How does Bend tap water hold up under EPA scrutiny? Above average for OR - documented violations are uncommon and the safety grade reflects a clean overall record.
How Bend Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Bend Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 49 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0009 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 33% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,950 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.77.
Bend's Water Providers
Water service in Bend, OR is split across 3 utilities out of 14 tracked federally, each operating its own infrastructure and compliance record.
- B
- B
- A
Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Bend, Oregon, covering 14 community water systems serving approximately 136,639 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 6 ZIP codes.
4 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Bend: B (79/100)
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
Bend water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0009 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 6 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | 68 | 3 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 19 | 4 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 16 | 4 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 5 | 3 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 4 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97703 | B | 30 | 0 | City of Bend, |
| 97701 | B | 25 | 1 | City of Bend, |
| 97702 | B | 22 | 0 | City of Bend, |
| 97707 | A | 12 | 0 | Sunriver Water Llc/sunriver Utilities |
All ZIP Codes in Bend
- 97701 [B] - 25 violations ⚠
- 97702 [B] - 22 violations
- 97703 [B] - 30 violations
- 97707 [A] - 12 violations
- 97708
- 97709
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.
Bend Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Bend's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Bend Infrastructure Age
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
What does a median build year of 1994 mean for water safety in Bend? It means the housing stock straddles two key plumbing thresholds: the 1986 federal ban on lead solder in copper plumbing, and the pre-1970 era when lead pipes were commonly installed for service lines. A meaningful share of homes predates one or both of those cutoffs, creating varied risk levels across the city's housing inventory.
Most homes in Bend were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Bend
Low proportionality - that's the Bend picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Bend are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,300–$2,750 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 53% above the Oregon average.
Bend: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Households with kids in the home - for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure - face a specific local picture in Bend. 33% of homes here come from the pre-rule era, and aggregate utility samples either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L. A baseline draw-test kit and certified lead-removal filtration are available via retailer networks for households confirming conditions at a specific tap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Bend: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Bend contains 15 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $8,821. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% 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>$1,950</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Bend, OR