Imperial County, California
22 ZIP codes · Avg score 80/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Throughout Imperial County, the 22 monitored ZIP codes show low violation rates and healthy safety scores — a pattern that puts the county well above the state baseline for drinking water quality.
How Imperial County Compares
How Imperial County Compares
Imperial County scores 7 points above the California state average (73/100) and 12 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Imperial County, California
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 12 (asthma 9.2%, diabetes 14.3%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,372, driven primarily by wildfire
Infrastructure: 0.318% avg pipe failure probability, 5% of ZIPs at high risk
52.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2024)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Imperial County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 28 violations. Past 5 years: 42 total (42 health-based). Health-based violations are rising versus the prior 2-year window — worth closer monitoring.
Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.
County Health Indicators vs National Average
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,372
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
113,953 housing units in Imperial County
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 Imperial County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Imperial 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 Imperial County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Imperial County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Calexico, | 40,357 | 25 |
| 2 | Naf El Centro | 637 | 20 |
| 3 | City of El Centro, | 43,772 | 17 |
| 4 | Valley Mobile Home Park | 70 | 14 |
| 5 | Gateway | 1,800 | 14 |
36 total water systems serve Imperial County.
All ZIP Codes in Imperial County
22 ZIP codes tracked in Imperial County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 92283 | Winterhaven | 93 | A | 12 (2 health) | $91K |
| 2 | 92250 | Holtville | 91 | A | 3 (1 health) | $279K |
| 3 | 92251 | Imperial | 91 | A | 3 (1 health) | $350K |
| 4 | 92259 | Ocotillo | 91 | A | 4 (1 health) | $159K |
| 5 | 92231 | Calexico | 89 | A | 7 (2 health) | $282K |
| 6 | 92232 | Calexico | 89 | A | 7 (2 health) | — |
| 7 | 92244 | El Centro | 89 | A | 7 (5 health) | — |
| 8 | 92249 | Heber | 88 | A | 1 | $284K |
| 9 | 92227 | Brawley | 87 | A | 1 | $272K |
| 10 | 92243 | El Centro | 87 | A | 7 (5 health) | $286K |
| 11 | 92273 | Seeley | 83 | B | 3 (1 health) | $191K |
| 12 | 92266 | Palo Verde | 80 | B | 9 (4 health) | — |
| 13 | 92281 | Westmorland | 78 | B | 4 (2 health) | $222K |
| 14 | 92233 | Calipatria | 73 | B | 0 | $177K |
| 15 | 92242 | Earp | 73 | B | 0 | $134K |
| 16 | 92656 | Aliso Viejo | 73 | B | 0 | $850K |
| 17 | 92691 | Mission Viejo | 73 | B | 0 | $917K |
| 18 | 92222 | Bard | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 19 | 92274 | Thermal | 66 | C | 7 (4 health) | $140K |
| 20 | 92280 | Vidal | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 21 | 92637 | Laguna Woods | 66 | C | 0 | $365K |
| 22 | 92257 | Niland | 65 | C | 0 | $113K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Imperial County
Filtered against EPA monitoring data and CDC lead-exposure guidance, the guides below skip the generic catalog and connect directly to the contaminants and hazards on file here.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 52.2% of homes built before 1978
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best HEPA Air Purifiers for Wildfire Smoke — Wildfire is the top compound risk factor
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Imperial County, California
Overview
Imperial County in California covers 22 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (80/100).
14 of 22 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 30 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to California water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.