Chesapeake, VA: 4 Violations - Home Safety Score unavailable
9 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
Chesapeake Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 4 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0018 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 50% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.85 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Chesapeake
3 independent water providers serve Chesapeake, VA - 8 systems appear in federal records.
Overview
We track home safety data for 9 ZIP codes in Chesapeake, Virginia (population ~251,477), covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 1,041,271 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 6 of 9 ZIP codes.
4 of 6 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (67%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Water Sources
Chesapeake water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0018 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 6 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): 9 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 3 | 2 |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 3 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23321 | — | 3 | 0 | City of Chesapeake - Western Branch Sys |
| 23323 | — | 3 | 0 | City of Chesapeake - Northwest River Sys |
| 23322 | — | 1 | 0 | City of Chesapeake - Northwest River Sys |
| 23324 | — | 1 | 0 | City of Chesapeake - Northwest River Sys |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23320 | — | City of Chesapeake - Northwest River Sys | 165,240 |
| 23325 | — | City of Chesapeake - Northwest River Sys | 165,240 |
All ZIP Codes in Chesapeake
- 23320
- 23321 - 3 violations
- 23322 - 1 violation
- 23323 - 3 violations
- 23324 - 1 violation
- 23325
- 23326
- 23327
- 23328
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 Chesapeake
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 Chesapeake
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Chesapeake's Housing Stock?
With 50% 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 a city's housing median build year is 1985, as in Chesapeake, the implication for water quality research is straightforward: municipal-level data captures what leaves the treatment plant, but household plumbing from before 1986 determines what actually arrives at the tap. In cities where older housing predominates, that gap between system-level and household-level data is widest.
Over half of homes in Chesapeake 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.
Chesapeake: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Equity impact data for Chesapeake lands in the favorable tier - remediation claims a small slice of what properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Chesapeake are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 12% above the Virginia average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Chesapeake
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.
After the federal action removing lead-bearing solder from new plumbing took effect, building practice shifted - but 50% of the Chesapeake inventory predates that line. With aggregate samples near or beyond 0.015 mg/L, an in-home check moves out of the optional column into the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Chesapeake
Historical NFIP data for Chesapeake contains 2,636 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $13,462. 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 <strong>$1,200</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 Chesapeake, VA