Suffolk, VA: 3 Violations - Home Safety 99/100
8 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Suffolk: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Water systems in Suffolk, VA serve households with few reported safety events.
How Suffolk Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Suffolk, VA
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Suffolk score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Suffolk Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 3 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0019 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 51% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,471 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.6 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Suffolk
3 independent water providers serve Suffolk, VA - 5 systems appear in federal records.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Suffolk, Virginia (population ~96,367), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 249,434 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 7 of 8 ZIP codes.
3 of 7 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (43%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Suffolk: A (99/100)
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
Suffolk water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0019 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 7 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): 8 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23435 | A | 2 | 0 | City of Suffolk, |
| 23432 | A | 1 | 0 | City of Suffolk, |
| 23434 | A | 1 | 0 | City of Suffolk, |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23433 | A | City of Suffolk, | 69,822 |
| 23436 | A | City of Suffolk, | 69,822 |
| 23437 | A | City of Suffolk, | 69,822 |
| 23438 | A | City of Suffolk, | 69,822 |
All ZIP Codes in Suffolk
- 23432 [A] - 1 violation
- 23433 [A]
- 23434 [A] - 1 violation
- 23435 [A] - 2 violations
- 23436 [A]
- 23437 [A]
- 23438 [A]
- 23439
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.
Health Outcomes in Suffolk
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
Top Contaminants in Suffolk Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Suffolk
With 51% 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
Because the majority of Suffolk's housing predates 1986, when lead solder was banned from new plumbing, the median build year of 1984 reflects a city where lead-era plumbing materials are common rather than exceptional.
Over half of homes in Suffolk 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 Suffolk Homeowners
What does remediation cost in financial context for Suffolk homeowners? Proportionally very little - the equity share here is low, and addressing documented issues is a manageable planning question rather than a material financial burden.
Remediation costs in Suffolk are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,000–$2,214 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 19% above the Virginia average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Suffolk
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.
Older stock in Suffolk represents 51% of the inventory, and citywide monitoring runs at or above the federal action level - making an in-home read a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Suffolk
Historical NFIP data for Suffolk contains 232 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $30,486. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 14% 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>$1,471</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 Suffolk, VA