Josephine County, Oregon
10 ZIP codes · Avg score 71/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
Recent water monitoring in Josephine County shows 10 ZIP codes with consistently safe results.
How Josephine County Compares
How Josephine County Compares
Josephine County scores 7 points below the Oregon state average (78/100) and 3 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Josephine County, Oregon
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 15.2 (asthma 12.4%, diabetes 14.8%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,909, driven primarily by wildfire
Infrastructure: 0.368% avg pipe failure probability, 22% of ZIPs at high risk
60.5% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↓ Improving trendEPA violation counts by year across Josephine County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2022 with 17 violations. Past 5 years: 32 total (32 health-based). Health-based violations are declining versus the prior 2-year window.
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: $1,909
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
23,043 housing units in Josephine 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 Josephine County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Josephine 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 Josephine 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 Josephine County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City of Grants Pass, | 37,138 | 98 |
| 2 | City of Cave Junction, | 2,160 | 85 |
| 3 | Kerby Water District | 400 | 85 |
| 4 | Cascade Gorge Properties | 33 | 85 |
| 5 | Clovercrest Community Water System | 65 | 82 |
10 total water systems serve Josephine County.
All ZIP Codes in Josephine County
10 ZIP codes tracked in Josephine County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 97528 | Grants Pass | 81 | B | 8 | — |
| 2 | 97523 | Cave Junction | 80 | B | 85 (15 health) | $301K |
| 3 | 97534 | O Brien | 73 | B | 0 | $258K |
| 4 | 97543 | Wilderville | 73 | B | 0 | $551K |
| 5 | 97544 | Williams | 73 | B | 0 | $525K |
| 6 | 97527 | Grants Pass | 70 | B | 8 | $408K |
| 7 | 97531 | Kerby | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 8 | 97533 | Murphy | 66 | C | 0 | — |
| 9 | 97538 | Selma | 66 | C | 0 | $290K |
| 10 | 97532 | Merlin | 57 | C | 82 (17 health) | $418K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Josephine County
While many sites publish identical guide lists across every county they cover, the selection here changes by location — driven by the EPA, NSF, FEMA, and CDC datasets that describe the actual conditions documented for this jurisdiction in the federal record.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 60.5% 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 Josephine County, Oregon
Overview
Josephine County in Oregon covers 10 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (71/100).
4 of 10 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 32 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Oregon 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.