Walla Walla, WA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Walla Walla: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Although much of Walla Walla meets baseline drinking water standards, some WA-tracked service areas show violations that merit a closer look - particularly for older housing stock.
How Walla Walla Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Walla Walla Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 119 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0044 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 68% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.09 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Walla Walla
3 water utilities share the residential service territory in Walla Walla, WA - out of 5 total systems in federal records.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Walla Walla, Washington, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 42,794 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Walla Walla: C (67/100)
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
Walla Walla water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0044 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 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 2031 | Other | 14 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2040 | Other | 14 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2041 | Other | 14 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2110 | Other | 14 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2326 | Other | 14 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99362 | C | 119 | 0 | Walla Walla Water Division |
All ZIP Codes in Walla Walla
- 99362 [C] - 119 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.
CDC Health Data for Walla Walla
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 Walla Walla
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Walla Walla's Housing Stock?
With 68% 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 Walla Walla 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 1961, 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 Walla Walla 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.
Walla Walla: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Setting Walla Walla remediation figures against its property market, the resulting ratio sits comfortably in the low tier - a classification that reflects the kind of household financial position where most homeowners can identify documented issues, schedule the work, and absorb the cost without it registering as a significant budget disruption.
Remediation costs in Walla Walla are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$3,300 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 15% below the Washington average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Walla Walla
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.
Reading the local data together points toward a structural gap that matters more here than in low-exposure communities. 68% of Walla Walla stock comes from the pre-rule era, and citywide monitoring either approaches or sits beyond the federal benchmark under Lead and Copper Rule sampling. A baseline kit fits the routine-diligence category, with certified filtration available via retailer networks where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Walla Walla
Historical NFIP data for Walla Walla contains 33 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $28,604. 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>$2,200</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.
What You Can Do in Walla Walla
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Contaminant 2031 can reduce the most common contaminant found in Walla Walla's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 68% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Walla Walla, WA