CITY REPORT WA

South Bend, WA: Lead Above EPA Action Level - Home Safety 100/100

1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for South Bend: A.

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

Tap water system records for South Bend, WA support a high grade on this site; review your own system's entries for specifics.

How South Bend Compares

South Bend100/100
Washington avg86/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
2
Water Systems
0
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
A · 100
Avg Safety Score
1
ZIPs Mapped to a System Above the Lead Action Level
Zone 3
County Radon Potential (Low)
$232K
Median Home Value
$4,860
Est. Remediation (2.1% of home value)

What You Should Know About South Bend Water

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.023 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
  • Homes built before 1986: 81% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $4,860 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 15.07.

Who Supplies Your Water in South Bend

Among 2 systems linked to South Bend, WA, the 2 biggest by population served appear below.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in South Bend, Washington (population ~1,848), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 5,355 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for South Bend: 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

South Bend water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0230 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
  • 1 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.

Areas with No Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score System Population
98586 A South Bend Water Department 2,930

All ZIP Codes in South Bend

Data Sources

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

Health Outcomes in South Bend

11.1%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
14.9%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
16%
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 11.1% ↑
Diabetes 14.9% ↑
Mental Health 16% ↑

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

Housing & Infrastructure in South Bend

1968
Median Build Year
81%
Built Before 1986
59%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 81% 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

If you live in one of the pre-1986 homes in South Bend, a certified lab test for lead is the direct way to learn what your tap delivers; the median build year of 1968 is only context.

1968
Median Year Built
81%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
59%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (59%) 1970–1986 (22%) Post-1986 (19%)

Over half of homes in South Bend were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Cost Context: What Remediation Means for South Bend Homeowners

Elevated tier for South Bend: remediation above 2% of home value.

Median Home Value
$231,900
Est. Remediation
$4,860
Remediation as % of home value 2.1%

Estimated remediation costs in South Bend equal about 2.1% of the median home value; how much that burdens a household depends on its finances. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $3,240–$6,480. Home values here are 50% below the Washington average.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in South Bend

1 of 1
ZIPs Mapped to a System Above the Lead Action Level
81%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.023
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.

Several steps are open to South Bend households. Area lead results, averaged by ZIP code, run higher than 0.015 mg/L, while 81% of homes date from before 1986. A certified laboratory test measures lead at the tap, the utility's service line inventory shows how a home's line is classified, and a filter certified to NSF/ANSI 53 for lead reduction can be used for drinking and cooking water while results are pending.

1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.

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

Historical NFIP Claim Context in South Bend

39
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$20,805
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
100%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for South Bend contains 39 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $20,805. 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 $4,860 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 South Bend, WA

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for South Bend, WA?
South Bend has an average Home Safety Score of 100/100 (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. The available EPA record reports no violations for ZIP codes with reported counts. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
Does South Bend water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of South Bend is 0.023 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does South Bend compare to Washington average?
South Bend has an average Home Safety Score of 100/100, which is at or above the Washington state average of 86/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve South Bend?
Our records map 2 water systems to 1 ZIP code in South Bend. The related population figure in our data is approximately 1,848 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in South Bend?
Estimated remediation cost per household in South Bend: $4,860; modeled range $3,240 to $6,480. 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). South Bend, WA: Lead Above EPA Action Level - Home Safety 100/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/wa/south-bend/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-wa-south-bend,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{South Bend, WA: Lead Above EPA Action Level - Home Safety 100/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/wa/south-bend/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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