CITY REPORT VA

Falls Church, VA Home Safety: Home Safety 50/100

6 ZIP codes · 3 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Falls Church: D.

Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.

Public water compliance in Falls Church falls below the VA baseline - elevated violation rates are on record.

How Falls Church Compares

Falls Church50/100
Virginia avg75/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

6
ZIP Codes
3
Water Systems
0
ZIPs with Violations
D · 50
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
Radon Risk (Low)
$711K
Median Home Value
$1,920
Est. Remediation (0.3% of home value)

What You Should Know About Falls Church Water

  • Average lead level: 0.0012 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 76% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $1,920 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 9.76.

Who Supplies Your Water in Falls Church

Residential water service in Falls Church, VA is divided among 3 separate utilities, drawn from 3 systems on file with federal regulators.

Overview

We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Falls Church, Virginia (population ~122,171), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 1,495,813 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 5 of 6 ZIP codes.

The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 5 ZIP codes with a reported violation count.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Falls Church: D (50/100)

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

Falls Church water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0012 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
  • 0 of 5 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

Areas with No Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score System Population
22041 D Fairfax County Water Authority 1,121,613
22042 D Fairfax County Water Authority 1,121,613
22043 D Fairfax County Water Authority 1,121,613
22044 D Fairfax County Water Authority 1,121,613
22046 — Fairfax County Water Authority 1,121,613

All ZIP Codes in Falls Church

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Health Outcomes in Falls Church

9.1%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
10.1%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
12.3%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 9.1% ↓
Diabetes 10.1% ↓
Mental Health 12.3% ↓

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

Housing & Infrastructure in Falls Church

1968
Median Build Year
76%
Built Before 1986
32%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 76% 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

The lead that enters tap water in older homes often comes not from the municipal supply but from the home's own plumbing - from solder used in copper joints before the 1986 federal ban, or from lead pipes installed before 1970. In Falls Church, where the median build year is 1968, these older materials are widespread. More than half the residential stock predates the 1986 solder ban, and a significant fraction predates 1970 as well. For residents in those homes, the city-wide water quality picture is a less relevant frame than the specific materials inside their own walls and under their own street.

1968
Median Year Built
76%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
32%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (32%) 1970–1986 (44%) Post-1986 (24%)

Over half of homes in Falls Church 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.

Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Falls Church Homeowners

When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Falls Church, the resulting ratio is low - a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.

Median Home Value
$711,400
Est. Remediation
$1,920
Remediation as % of home value 0.3%

Remediation costs in Falls Church are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,280–$2,740 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 127% above the Virginia average.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Falls Church

76%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0012
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.

Households with kids in the home - for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure - face a specific local picture in Falls Church. 76% 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.

Historical NFIP Claim Context in Falls Church

248
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$20,228
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
20%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Falls Church contains 248 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $20,228. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 20% 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>$1,920</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.

What You Can Do in Falls Church

  1. Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
  2. Install a certified water filter. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
  3. Check your home's plumbing. With 76% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
  4. Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Falls Church, VA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Falls Church, VA?
Falls Church has an average Home Safety Score of 50/100 (Grade D) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. The available EPA record reports no violations for ZIP codes with reported counts. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
Does Falls Church water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in Falls Church is 0.0012 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Falls Church compare to Virginia average?
Falls Church has an average Home Safety Score of 50/100, which is below the Virginia state average of 75/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Falls Church?
Falls Church is served by 3 public water systems across 6 ZIP codes, serving approximately 122,171 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Falls Church?
Estimated remediation costs in Falls Church average $1,920 per household, ranging from $1,280 to $2,740. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Falls Church, VA Home Safety: Home Safety 50/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/va/falls-church/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-va-falls-church,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Falls Church, VA Home Safety: Home Safety 50/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/va/falls-church/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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