Mountlake Terrace, WA: 1 Violation - Home Safety 100/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Mountlake Terrace: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Water systems serving Mountlake Terrace hold a strong EPA compliance record - the city places among the better-performing areas in WA with few health-based violations on file.
How Mountlake Terrace Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Mountlake Terrace Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 1 violation in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 75% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.74.
Water Systems Serving Mountlake Terrace
Water supply in Mountlake Terrace, WA follows a divided structure: 2 utilities account for the largest share of residential service out of 2 total systems, each managing its own distribution network and EPA reporting. Because these systems operate independently, rate decisions and compliance outcomes are determined separately.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Mountlake Terrace, Washington (population ~21,417), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 272,117 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 Mountlake Terrace: A (100/100)
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
Mountlake Terrace water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Mountlake Terrace
- Lead action-level status: not available
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98043 | A | 1 | 0 | City of Mountlake Terrace |
All ZIP Codes in Mountlake Terrace
- 98043 [A] - 1 violation
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 Mountlake Terrace
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 Mountlake Terrace
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Mountlake Terrace's Housing Stock?
With 75% 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
Decades of residential development in Mountlake Terrace took place before the two main regulatory milestones that reduced plumbing-era lead risk: the phase-out of lead pipes before 1970, and the federal ban on lead solder in 1986. With a median build year of 1979, the housing stock here is anchored in that earlier period. The distinction between pre-1970 and 1970-to-1986 construction matters: the oldest homes may have lead pipes in the service line and lead solder in the copper joints, while the 1970-to-1986 tier still carries the solder risk even after lead pipes became less common. Together, these two risk layers affect a majority of the residential properties in the city - a fact the aggregate water quality data doesn't directly reveal.
Over half of homes in Mountlake Terrace 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.
Mountlake Terrace: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Mountlake Terrace, documented water and safety issues can be addressed without making a meaningful dent in home equity - the financial proportionality here is favorable, and the commitment fits within standard property planning frameworks.
Remediation costs in Mountlake Terrace are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 30% above the Washington average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Mountlake Terrace
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.
Households with kids in the home - for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure - face a specific local picture in Mountlake Terrace. 75% of homes here come from the pre-rule era, and aggregate utility samples either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L. A baseline draw-test kit and certified lead-removal filtration are available via retailer networks for households confirming conditions at a specific tap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Mountlake Terrace
Historical NFIP data for Mountlake Terrace contains 6 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $10,689. 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 <strong>$1,200</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 Mountlake Terrace, WA