Throughout Sprague River and across its water systems, EPA compliance data for OR shows above-average performance — violations are minimal, none of the tracked systems have recorded repeated MCL exceedances in recent cycles, and the safety picture has held steady across multiple reporting periods.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

Overview

We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Sprague River, Oregon (population ~9), covering 1 community water system serving approximately 60 people region-wide.

No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Sprague River — an excellent indicator of water quality.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Sprague River: B (83/100)

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

Sprague River water systems draw from: Groundwater.

Lead & Copper

• Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0022 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)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Areas with No Violations

All ZIP Codes in Sprague River

• 97639 [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.

Housing Age Profile

Sprague River's housing stock is predominantly older, with a median build year of 1961 that reflects decades of construction before federal plumbing standards were tightened. The 1986 ban on lead solder and the pre-1970 era of lead service lines are both relevant benchmarks here — a significant share of the residential inventory predates one or both of those cutoffs, creating an elevated baseline for plumbing-related lead risk that aggregate water quality data may not fully reflect at the household level.

1961

Median Year Built

71%

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

9%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Pre-1970 (9%) 1970–1986 (62%) Post-1986 (29%)

Over half of homes in Sprague River 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.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Sprague River

71%

Homes Built Before 1986

0.0022

mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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.

Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 71% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Sprague River.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.