Seattle, WA: 62 Violations - 95/100 (2026)
62 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated 2026-07-19
ZipCheckup grade for Seattle: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Based on current monitoring, Seattle holds an above-average drinking water safety record for WA - violations are infrequent and typically minor when they do appear.
Data: EPA SDWIS, FEMA NFIP, Census ACS Last verified: 2026-07-19
Key Facts for Seattle Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 62 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0035 mg/L.
Water Quality in Seattle
We track water quality and home safety data for 62 ZIP codes in Seattle, Washington (population ~994,393), covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 1,773,578 people region-wide.
62 of 62 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations - 62 total, including no health-based violations.
Average Home Safety Score: A (95/100)
Water sources: Groundwater, Surface water.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 62 | 62 |
Lead Risk
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0035 mg/L
- 63% of housing built before 1986 (when lead solder was banned)
- 26% of housing built before 1950 (when lead pipes were standard)
- Median year built: 1973
- Most common estimated pipe material: Galvanized Steel or Copper
- Lead exposure risk score: 51/100
- Estimated lead service line probability: 19%
- 28 ZIP codes classified as high or very high lead risk
With 63% of homes built before the 1986 lead solder ban, Seattle residents - especially those in older neighborhoods - should consider testing their tap water for lead. Homes built before 1950 are at the highest risk of having lead service lines.
Housing Age Distribution
473,864 total housing units across 62 ZIP codes:
| Era | Units | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-1940 | 93,197 | 20% |
| 1940–1949 | 37,499 | 8% |
| 1950–1959 | 50,664 | 11% |
| 1960–1969 | 48,461 | 10% |
| 1970–1979 | 42,008 | 9% |
| 1980–1989 | 41,619 | 9% |
| 1990–1999 | 36,715 | 8% |
| 2000–2009 | 51,979 | 11% |
| 2010–2019 | 69,460 | 15% |
| 2020+ | 2,262 | 0% |
Flood Risk
FEMA National Flood Insurance Program data for Seattle:
- 485 flood insurance claims on record
- $7,102,144 total paid out
- $14,644 average claim payout
- Dominant FEMA flood zone: X (Low risk)
- 7 of 62 ZIP codes in high-risk flood zones (A/V)
Radon Risk
Dominant EPA radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 62 ZIP codes
Neighborhoods by Safety Score
Safest Areas
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98111 | 99/100 | A | 1 |
| 98113 | 99/100 | A | 1 |
| 98114 | 99/100 | A | 1 |
| 98124 | 99/100 | A | 1 |
| 98127 | 99/100 | A | 1 |
| 98129 | 99/100 | A | 1 |
| 98131 | 99/100 | A | 1 |
| 98132 | 99/100 | A | 1 |
| 98134 | 99/100 | A | 1 |
| 98138 | 99/100 | A | 1 |
Areas Needing Attention
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Grade | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 98166 | 85/100 | A | 1 |
| 98199 | 90/100 | A | 1 |
| 98198 | 90/100 | A | 1 |
| 98178 | 90/100 | A | 1 |
| 98177 | 90/100 | A | 1 |
| 98155 | 90/100 | A | 1 |
| 98146 | 90/100 | A | 1 |
| 98136 | 90/100 | A | 1 |
| 98133 | 90/100 | A | 1 |
| 98126 | 90/100 | A | 1 |
What Seattle Residents Can Do
Test Your Water
- Order a certified lab test - home test kits cost $20–50 and cover lead, bacteria, and common contaminants
- Request your utility's CCR (Consumer Confidence Report) - your water provider must publish this annually
- Check your ZIP code - each area in Seattle has different water systems and risk levels
Filter Your Water
- NSF-certified pitcher filter removes chlorine taste and some contaminants ($20–40)
- NSF 53-certified filter for lead - recommended for homes built before 1986
- Reverse osmosis system removes 95%+ of contaminants including lead, PFAS, and nitrates ($150–400)
Stay Informed
- Visit your ZIP code report for detailed, address-level data
- Sign up for EPA water quality alerts
- Review the annual water quality report from your local utility
All ZIP Codes in Seattle
- 98101 [A] - 1 violation
- 98102 [A] - 1 violation
- 98103 [A] - 1 violation
- 98104 [A] - 1 violation
- 98105 [A] - 1 violation
- 98106 [A] - 1 violation
- 98107 [A] - 1 violation
- 98108 [A] - 1 violation
- 98109 [A] - 1 violation
- 98111 [A] - 1 violation
- 98112 [A] - 1 violation
- 98113 [A] - 1 violation
- 98114 [A] - 1 violation
- 98115 [A] - 1 violation
- 98116 [A] - 1 violation
- 98117 [A] - 1 violation
- 98118 [A] - 1 violation
- 98119 [A] - 1 violation
- 98121 [A] - 1 violation
- 98122 [A] - 1 violation
- 98124 [A] - 1 violation
- 98125 [A] - 1 violation
- 98126 [A] - 1 violation
- 98127 [A] - 1 violation
- 98129 [A] - 1 violation
- 98131 [A] - 1 violation
- 98132 [A] - 1 violation
- 98133 [A] - 1 violation
- 98134 [A] - 1 violation
- 98136 [A] - 1 violation
- 98138 [A] - 1 violation
- 98139 [A] - 1 violation
- 98141 [A] - 1 violation
- 98144 [A] - 1 violation
- 98145 [A] - 1 violation
- 98146 [A] - 1 violation
- 98148 [A] - 1 violation
- 98154 [A] - 1 violation
- 98155 [A] - 1 violation
- 98158 [A] - 1 violation
- 98160 [A] - 1 violation
- 98161 [A] - 1 violation
- 98164 [A] - 1 violation
- 98165 [A] - 1 violation
- 98166 [A] - 1 violation
- 98168 [A] - 1 violation
- 98170 [A] - 1 violation
- 98171 [A] - 1 violation
- 98174 [A] - 1 violation
- 98175 [A] - 1 violation
- 98177 [A] - 1 violation
- 98178 [A] - 1 violation
- 98181 [A] - 1 violation
- 98185 [A] - 1 violation
- 98188 [A] - 1 violation
- 98189 [A] - 1 violation
- 98190 [A] - 1 violation
- 98191 [A] - 1 violation
- 98194 [A] - 1 violation
- 98195 [A] - 1 violation
- 98198 [A] - 1 violation
- 98199 [A] - 1 violation
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in Seattle, WA?
Seattle has an average Home Safety Score of 95/100 (grade A) across 62 ZIP codes. There are 62 recorded EPA violations, 0 of which are health-based. Safety varies by neighborhood - check your specific ZIP code report for details.
Does Seattle have lead in the water?
The average 90th-percentile lead level across Seattle is 0.0035 mg/L, below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. No ZIP codes currently exceed the EPA lead action level. About 63% of housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was banned.
Is Seattle at risk for flooding?
FEMA data shows 485 flood insurance claims in Seattle ZIP codes, with an average payout of $14,644. 7 of 62 ZIP codes are in high-risk FEMA flood zones (A or V).
Are there lead pipes in Seattle homes?
63% of Seattle housing was built before 1986, when lead solder was common in plumbing. 26% was built before 1950, when lead pipes were standard. The most common estimated pipe material is Galvanized Steel or Copper. The estimated probability of lead service lines is 19%. We recommend testing your water if your home was built before 1986.
What contaminants have been found in Seattle water?
The most common contaminants by violation count are Surface Water Treatment Rule. Across 62 ZIP codes, 62 have recorded EPA violations. Check your ZIP code report for the specific contaminants in your area.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Housing age: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey
- Flood data: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program
- Lead exposure: Composite risk score based on housing age, water lead levels, and service line estimates
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Updated daily.
Seattle Infrastructure Age
Median build year of 1973 means many homes predate lead paint and lead solder regulations. Consider testing if your home has original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Cities with large shares of pre-1986 housing carry elevated aggregate risk from lead-soldered plumbing; Seattle sits on the lower end of that spectrum. The median build year of 1973 reflects a housing stock in which post-ban construction is dominant - meaning lead-soldered copper joints are less prevalent across the city as a whole. Still, aggregate figures don't tell you what's happening inside a specific older home. Any structure built before 1986, and particularly those built before 1970 when lead pipes were commonly installed, can still present meaningful lead risk regardless of the city-wide picture.
Most homes in Seattle 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.
Seattle: 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.
Lead risk in Seattle appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Seattle: Flood History & Water Damage Risk
Taken together, Seattle's 485 NFIP flood insurance claims and 0% FEMA flood zone coverage place it in the moderate range of exposure. That middle position has specific implications for water quality. The contamination pathways that flooding can open - surface water overwhelming treatment facility intake, floodwaters infiltrating private wells, distribution pressure changes creating backflow - are not constant risks in a moderate-exposure community. But they do become active during significant flood events, and the claim record here indicates enough of those events to make flood timing an occasional factor in local water quality conversations.
Seattle has a moderate flood history with 485 FEMA claims. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones - over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Seattle, WA