Klamath Falls, OR: 3 Health Violations — 78/100 (2026)
3 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Across Klamath Falls, EPA monitoring data shows low violation rates and healthy safety margins — a pattern that places the city well above OR's average for drinking water compliance across recent reporting cycles.
How Klamath Falls Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Klamath Falls Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 33 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0006 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 70% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,500 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.95 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Klamath Falls
Klamath Falls, OR is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 5 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Klamath Falls, Oregon, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 54,963 people.
3 of 3 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations documented.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Klamath Falls: B (78/100)
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
Klamath Falls water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0006 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 24 | 3 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 8 | 3 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 3 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 3 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97601 | B | 11 | 1 | Klamath Falls Water Department |
| 97602 | B | 11 | 1 | Klamath Falls Water Department |
| 97603 | B | 11 | 1 | Klamath Falls Water Department |
All ZIP Codes in Klamath Falls
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 Klamath Falls
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 Klamath Falls
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Klamath Falls's Housing Stock?
With 70% 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
Heavily weighted toward older construction, Klamath Falls's housing stock carries a median build year of 1969. That profile puts a majority of homes in the era when lead-soldered copper plumbing was standard practice.
Over half of homes in Klamath Falls 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.
Klamath Falls: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Because property values in Klamath Falls comfortably exceed estimated remediation costs, the equity impact here is proportionally small.
Remediation costs in Klamath Falls are relatively low compared to home values. The $683–$2,533 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 34% below the Oregon average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Klamath Falls
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.
When older housing represents 70% of the local inventory or aggregate readings approach the federal action level, an in-home check becomes the standard way to translate citywide averages into the specific reality of an individual Klamath Falls address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Klamath Falls
Over the multi-decade window covered by the National Flood Insurance Program, Klamath Falls has accumulated 1 claim — a total that suggests more than isolated flood exposure. With 33% 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.
Klamath Falls has a moderate flood history with 1 FEMA claims averaging $7,070 per payout. 33% 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>$1,500</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 Klamath Falls, OR