COUNTY REPORT CA

Alpine County, California

5 ZIP codes · Avg score 62/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Within Alpine County, 5 tracked ZIP codes reveal moderate water quality — national standards are generally met, with some documented exceptions.

How Alpine County Compares

Alpine County62/100
California avg73/100
National avg68/100

How Alpine County Compares

C
County Grade
62/100
Avg Safety Score
5
ZIP Codes
3
Water Systems

Alpine County scores 11 points below the California state average (73/100) and 6 points below the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

C
County Grade
62
Avg Safety Score
5
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 95646 (83/100)
Lowest ZIP: 95735 (53/100)
$538K
Median Home Value
$760
Avg Remediation (14% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Alpine County, California

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 12.3 (asthma 10%, diabetes 11.3%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,268, driven primarily by wildfire

Infrastructure: 0.375% avg pipe failure probability, 50% of ZIPs at high risk

71.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.3% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 28.4% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1965
Median Build Year
71.5%
Pre-1978 Housing
38%
Pipe Failure Probability
50%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,268

Wildfire $660/yr
Energy Code Gap $378/yr
Water / Lead $190/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

1,986 housing units in Alpine County

Pre-1940 9%
1940–1959 27%
1960–1979 23%
1980–1999 27%
2000+ 13%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Alpine County

$538K
Median Home Value
$760
Est. Remediation Cost
0.1%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Alpine County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Alpine County residents

Asthma 10% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 11.3% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 28.4% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 3 systems in Alpine County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 KIRKWOOD MEADOWS PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT 7,851 1
2 SOUTH TAHOE PUD - MAIN 100,000 0
3 Markleeville Water Company 175 0

All ZIP Codes in Alpine County

5 ZIP codes tracked in Alpine County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 95646 Kirkwood 83 B 1 $568K
2 96120 Markleeville 68 C 0 $481K
3 95644 Kit Carson 53 D 0
4 95721 Echo Lake 53 D 0
5 95735 Twin Bridges 53 D 0 $538K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Alpine County

Eight risk categories drive the selection — PFAS exceedance, lead above EPA action level, pre-1978 housing share, EPA Radon Zone 1, flood-top-risk, wildfire-top-risk, multi-contaminant load, and a baseline fallback — and each category maps to a specific buyer-guide track that surfaces when the county data hits its threshold for that hazard signal.

Overview

Alpine County in California covers 5 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (62/100).

1 of 5 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to California water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Alpine County?
Alpine County receives a grade of C. Some ZIP codes have recorded violations and residents in affected areas may want to test their water.
How many water systems serve Alpine County?
Alpine County is served by 3 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 5 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Alpine County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Alpine County is wildfire. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,268 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Alpine County?
The median home build year in Alpine County is 1965. 71.5% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Alpine County compare to California?
Alpine County has an average water safety score of 62/100, which is below the California state average of 73/100.

Get safety alerts for Alpine, California

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Check your water filter options Free tool — no phone call required.