CITY REPORT WA HEALTH VIOLATIONS: 10

Ferndale, WA: 10 Health Violations - Home Safety 86/100

1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Ferndale: A.

The model grade is high, but the records on this page include findings worth reviewing.

Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (10 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →

Ferndale, WA carries a grade in ZipCheckup's upper tier; any health-based violations on record should be checked per water system.

How Ferndale Compares

Ferndale86/100
Washington avg86/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
5
Water Systems
1
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
A · 86
Avg Safety Score
Zone 3
County Radon Potential (Low)
$550K
Median Home Value
$600
Est. Remediation (0.1% of home value)

Ferndale Water: The Quick Version

  • Your city's water systems recorded 31 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0056 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 42% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 10.84.

Water Systems Serving Ferndale

More than one public water system is linked to Ferndale, WA: federal records tie 5 systems to the area, and the 3 with the largest reported service populations are shown below. Which of them supplies a particular address depends on where the property sits, and a water bill or the utility can confirm it.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Ferndale, Washington, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 28,061 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 10 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Ferndale: A (86/100)

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

Ferndale water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0056 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

1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is 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
Nitrate Inorganic 22 1
Consumer Confidence Rule Reporting 16 1
Arsenic Inorganic 6 1
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 6 1
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 4 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
98248 A 31 10 Ferndale

All ZIP Codes in Ferndale

  • 98248 [A] - 31 violations ⚠

Data Sources

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

CDC Health Data for Ferndale

10.7%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
8.8%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
17.9%
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 10.7% ↑
Diabetes 8.8% ↓
Mental Health 17.9% ↑

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

Key Contaminants Detected in Ferndale

Nitrate 22 violations
Inorganic · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 10 mg/L
Blue baby syndrome in infants
Consumer Confidence Rule 16 violations
Reporting
Arsenic 6 violations
Inorganic · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 0.01 mg/L
Long-term exposure above the MCL: skin damage, circulatory problems, increased cancer risk

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

How Old Is Ferndale's Housing Stock?

1998
Median Build Year
42%
Built Before 1986
17%
Built Before 1970
Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 42% 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

Lead solder was allowed in new plumbing until the 1986 federal restrictions, which is why older homes in Ferndale deserve a closer look; the median build year is 1998.

1998
Median Year Built
42%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
17%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (17%) 1970–1986 (25%) Post-1986 (58%)

Most homes in Ferndale 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.

Ferndale: Remediation Cost in Perspective

Here the gap between local home values and the estimated repair bill is wide, so the percentage shown below for Ferndale stays at or under the 1% mark.

Median Home Value
$550,300
Est. Remediation
$600
Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Estimated remediation costs in Ferndale can be compared with local home values. The $300–$1,500 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 18% above the Washington average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Ferndale

42%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0056
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 Ferndale

166
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$34,077
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
100%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Ferndale contains 166 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $34,077. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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 $600 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 Ferndale, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Ferndale, WA?
Ferndale has an average Home Safety Score of 86/100 (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. 31 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 Ferndale?
EPA records list 31 EPA violations, including 10 health-based violations for Ferndale water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 1 mapped ZIP code.
Does Ferndale water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Ferndale is 0.0056 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 Ferndale compare to Washington average?
Ferndale has an average Home Safety Score of 86/100, which is at or above the Washington state average of 86/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Ferndale?
Our records map 5 water systems to 1 ZIP code in Ferndale. The related population figure in our data is approximately 28,061 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Ferndale?
Estimated remediation cost per household in Ferndale: $600; modeled range $300 to $1,500. 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). Ferndale, WA: 10 Health Violations - Home Safety 86/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/wa/ferndale/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-wa-ferndale,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Ferndale, WA: 10 Health Violations - Home Safety 86/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/wa/ferndale/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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