CITY REPORT WA

Bellingham, WA: 8 Violations - Home Safety 94/100

5 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Bellingham: A.

Checked records flag no major concern; missing data is unknown.

Looking at federal compliance records for Bellingham, WA: the city earns a grade in the top two bands here, and each serving system's violation history can be reviewed individually for what lies behind it.

How Bellingham Compares

Bellingham94/100
Washington avg86/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

5
ZIP Codes
9
Water Systems
3
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
A · 94
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
County Radon Potential (Low)
$568K
Median Home Value
$500
Est. Remediation (0.1% of home value)

Bellingham Water: The Quick Version

  • Your city's water systems recorded 8 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0051 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 49% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $500 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.72.

Water Systems Serving Bellingham

Federal records list 9 water systems tied to Bellingham, WA. Of those, 3 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.

Overview

We track home safety data for 5 ZIP codes in Bellingham, Washington (population ~130,013), covering 9 community water systems serving approximately 288,864 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 5 ZIP codes.

3 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Bellingham: A (94/100)

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

Bellingham water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0051 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

5 of 5 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 3.

The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.

Top Contaminants

Contaminant Category Violations ZIPs Affected
Consumer Confidence Rule Reporting 7 3
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 2 1
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 2 1
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Technique 2 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
98226 B 5 0 City of Bellingham-water Division
98229 A 3 0 City of Bellingham-water Division
98225 A 1 0 City of Bellingham-water Division

All ZIP Codes in Bellingham

Data Sources

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

CDC Health Data for Bellingham

10.8%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
9.9%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
17.3%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 10.8% ↑
Diabetes 9.9% ↓
Mental Health 17.3% ↑

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

Key Contaminants Detected in Bellingham

Consumer Confidence Rule 7 violations
Reporting
Lead and Copper Rule 2 violations
Treatment Technique
Developmental delays in children, kidney damage
Revised Total Coliform Rule 2 violations
Microbiological
Indicates possible bacterial contamination

Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.

How Old Is Bellingham's Housing Stock?

1985
Median Build Year
49%
Built Before 1986
25%
Built Before 1970
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 49% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).

Housing Age Profile

Over the decades, Bellingham accumulated housing from multiple construction periods. The median build year of 1985 can be read against 1986, when lead solder in plumbing became federally prohibited - a regulatory line, not a safety line, and individual homes on either side of it can have different plumbing.

1985
Median Year Built
49%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
25%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (25%) 1970–1986 (24%) Post-1986 (51%)

Most homes in Bellingham were built after 1986; lead exposure at a tap still depends on its service line and plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Bellingham: Remediation Cost in Perspective

Estimated remediation for Bellingham is a small fraction of median property value - one percent or less - though the ratio does not describe any single household.

Median Home Value
$568,400
Est. Remediation
$500
Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Estimated remediation costs in Bellingham can be compared with local home values. The $300–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 22% above the Washington average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Bellingham

49%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0051
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.

If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Bellingham

122
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$42,067
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
40%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Bellingham contains 122 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $42,067. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 40% 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 $500 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 Bellingham, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Bellingham, WA?
Bellingham has an average Home Safety Score of 94/100 (Grade A) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. 8 violations appear in EPA records for water systems mapped to these ZIP codes. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving Bellingham?
EPA records list 8 EPA violations for Bellingham water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 5 mapped ZIP codes.
Does Bellingham water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Bellingham is 0.0051 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Bellingham compare to Washington average?
Bellingham has an average Home Safety Score of 94/100, which is at or above the Washington state average of 86/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Bellingham?
Our records map 9 water systems to 5 ZIP codes in Bellingham. The related population figure in our data is approximately 130,013 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Bellingham?
Estimated remediation cost per household in Bellingham: $500; modeled range $300 to $800. Estimated costs may include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, or flood protection where applicable.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Bellingham, WA: 8 Violations - Home Safety 94/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/wa/bellingham/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-wa-bellingham,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Bellingham, WA: 8 Violations - Home Safety 94/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/wa/bellingham/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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