Ruther Glen, VA Home Safety: Home Safety 100/100
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Ruther Glen: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Compared to statewide averages in VA, Ruther Glen scores well - health violations are below the norm and systems generally operate within federal standards.
How Ruther Glen Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Ruther Glen Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.0011 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 38% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.17 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Ruther Glen
Multiple utilities divide Ruther Glen, VA's water service - 3 leading providers among 4 on the federal register.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Ruther Glen, Virginia, covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 17,857 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Ruther Glen: A (100/100)
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
Ruther Glen water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0011 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22546 | A | Lake Land`or | 4,818 |
All ZIP Codes in Ruther Glen
- 22546 [A]
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 Ruther Glen
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
How Old Is Ruther Glen's Housing Stock?
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
Because Ruther Glen's housing stock spans a wide range of construction eras, the median build year of 1994 lands in a zone where two distinct risk populations share the same residential market. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered copper plumbing joints - that practice was federally prohibited in 1986 but remained standard until then. The fraction built before 1970 face an additional risk: lead pipes used for service line connections were common before that decade, meaning both the pipe and the solder may be lead-containing in the oldest structures. Residents in mid-century or earlier homes face a different risk environment than neighbors in houses built after 1986, even if they drink from the same utility's supply - and that property-level divergence is what makes the age distribution above more diagnostic than the city-wide median alone.
Most homes in Ruther Glen 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.
Ruther Glen: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Across Ruther Glen, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small - a favorable ratio for most property owners.
Remediation costs in Ruther Glen are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,100–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 11% below the Virginia average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Ruther Glen
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.
Despite citywide averages serving as the standard public reference point, those aggregates cannot resolve what is happening at one specific faucet - and where 38% of Ruther Glen homes come from before the solder rule or where utility samples sit at or above the action mark, the gap between system data and faucet reality matters more than it does in lower-exposure communities. An in-home draw closes that gap, with certified filtration through retailer networks available where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Ruther Glen
Historical NFIP data for Ruther Glen contains 4 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $9,817. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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>$1,700</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 Ruther Glen, VA