Medical Lake, WA: 6 Violations - Home Safety 48/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Medical Lake: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
Within Medical Lake, water quality data indicates below-average safety by WA standards - independent testing is a reasonable precaution for residents whose systems show active violations.
How Medical Lake Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Medical Lake Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 6 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0111 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 48% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $3,000 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.04 - above typical levels.
Medical Lake's Water Providers
Medical Lake, WA draws its residential water from 3 separate providers among the 5 federally tracked systems. Each operates independently, with its own infrastructure, rate structure, and compliance record.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Medical Lake, Washington (population ~9,398), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 361,130 people region-wide. 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Medical Lake: D (48/100)
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
Medical Lake water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0111 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 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99022 | D | 6 | 0 | City of Medical Lake |
All ZIP Codes in Medical Lake
- 99022 [D] - 6 violations
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.
Medical Lake Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Medical Lake's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Medical Lake Infrastructure Age
With 48% 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
Tap water lead levels are shaped by two factors: what the utility delivers, and what the household plumbing adds to it. Older homes contribute disproportionately to that second variable because lead solder was standard in copper plumbing before 1986, and lead pipes were common before 1970. In Medical Lake, where the median build year is 1980, a substantial share of the housing stock falls into these older categories. The bar chart above breaks out the pre-1970, 1970-to-1986, and post-1986 segments - the key ages for understanding where plumbing-era risk concentrates across the city.
Most homes in Medical Lake 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Medical Lake
In Medical Lake, property values comfortably outpace what documented remediation typically costs - the equity share is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Medical Lake are relatively low compared to home values. The $2,000–$4,100 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 26% below the Washington average.
Medical Lake: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 48% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Medical Lake.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Medical Lake: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Medical Lake contains 2 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $1,907. 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>$3,000</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.
What You Can Do in Medical Lake
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Lead testing is especially recommended given the area's lead levels.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Lead can reduce the most common contaminant found in Medical Lake's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 48% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Medical Lake, WA