Yelm, WA: 4 Violations - Home Safety 98/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Yelm: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Yelm's tap water quality puts it in WA's upper tier - health-based violations are rare and the compliance record is consistently above average.
How Yelm Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Yelm Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 4 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0126 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 29% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.82.
Yelm's Water Providers
Multiple utilities divide Yelm, WA's water service - 3 leading providers among 5 on the federal register.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Yelm, Washington, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 26,431 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 Yelm: A (98/100)
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
Yelm water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0126 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 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 98597 | A | 4 | 0 | City of Yelm |
All ZIP Codes in Yelm
- 98597 [A] - 4 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.
Yelm Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Yelm's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Yelm Infrastructure Age
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Post-1986 construction is where the lower lead-solder risk lives, because that's when the federal ban on lead solder in plumbing took effect. In Yelm, where the median build year is 1992, the housing stock falls broadly on the newer side of that threshold - a distribution that moderates aggregate plumbing-era risk compared to older housing markets.
Most homes in Yelm 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Yelm
Across Yelm, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small - a favorable ratio for most property owners.
Remediation costs in Yelm are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 9% below the Washington average.
Yelm: 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.
Since the federal solder ban took effect, new plumbing has been built without that pathway, and Yelm's pre-rule stock at 29% reflects a contained footprint.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Yelm: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Yelm contains 61 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $10,970. 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 Yelm, WA