Yakima, WA: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 75/100
7 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Yakima: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Water systems serving Yakima hold a strong EPA compliance record - the city places among the better-performing areas in WA with few health-based violations on file.
How Yakima Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Yakima Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 52 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0019 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,643 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.85 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Yakima
In Yakima, WA, residential water supply is distributed across multiple utilities rather than concentrated in one. The 3 leading providers out of 10 tracked systems each control their own infrastructure, file separate EPA compliance reports, and set independent rate schedules.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 7 ZIP codes in Yakima, Washington, covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 134,388 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 7 ZIP codes.
4 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Yakima: B (75/100)
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
Yakima water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0019 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 7 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead | Inorganic | 9 | 2 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 4 |
| PFOA | PFAS | 5 | 4 |
| PFNA | PFAS | 5 | 4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | Disinfection Byproducts | 5 | 4 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98901 | B | 27 | 1 | City of Yakima Water Division |
| 98908 | B | 26 | 1 | Nob Hill Water Association |
| 98902 | B | 21 | 0 | City of Yakima Water Division |
| 98903 | B | 21 | 0 | Union Gap Water |
All ZIP Codes in Yakima
- 98901 [B] - 27 violations ⚠
- 98902 [B] - 21 violations
- 98903 [B] - 21 violations
- 98904
- 98907
- 98908 [B] - 26 violations ⚠
- 98909
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.
Health Outcomes in Yakima
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
Top Contaminants in Yakima Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Yakima Homeowners
Setting Yakima 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 Yakima are relatively low compared to home values. The $779–$2,786 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 43% below the Washington average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Yakima
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 Yakima 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.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Yakima
Historical NFIP data for Yakima contains 176 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $10,810. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 75% 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>$1,643</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 Yakima, WA