Auburn, WA: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 87/100
4 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Auburn: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Drinking water tracked for Auburn by WA authorities posts above-average scores - the majority of systems are free from health-based exceedances and the city's grade sits above the state median.
How Auburn Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Auburn Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 17 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0048 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 49% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,450 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 8.82.
Water Systems Serving Auburn
3 independent water providers serve Auburn, WA - 10 systems appear in federal records.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 4 ZIP codes in Auburn, Washington (population ~123,835), covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 658,266 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 4 ZIP codes.
3 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Auburn: A (87/100)
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
Auburn water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0048 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 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): 4 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | Inorganic | 9 | 3 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 9 | 2 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98092 | B | 14 | 1 | City of Auburn |
| 98001 | B | 6 | 0 | Lakehaven Water and Sewer District |
| 98002 | A | 2 | 0 | City of Auburn |
All ZIP Codes in Auburn
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 Auburn
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 Auburn
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Auburn's Housing Stock?
With 49% 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
Housing age is a practical proxy for plumbing risk because federal standards changed in 1986, when lead solder was banned from new residential construction, and again earlier - before 1970, lead pipes were themselves commonly installed. Auburn's median build year of 1983 sits in the range where both pre- and post-1986 homes are well represented. The bar chart above reflects that mixed picture: the distribution captures pockets of older housing alongside more recent development, and those pockets carry real lead risk potential at the individual property level.
Most homes in Auburn 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.
Auburn: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Across Auburn, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small - a favorable ratio for most property owners.
Remediation costs in Auburn are relatively low compared to home values. The $950–$2,150 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 15% above the Washington average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Auburn
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.
Even where utility-side monitoring meets Lead and Copper Rule requirements, the 49% pre-rule share in Auburn keeps interior-plumbing variation as a household-level question that aggregate data cannot resolve.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Auburn
Historical NFIP data for Auburn contains 49 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $26,808. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 33% 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>$1,450</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 Auburn, WA