COUNTY REPORT WA

Benton County, Washington

8 ZIP codes · Avg score 69/100 · Grade C · Updated 2026-06-03

Compared to top-scoring counties, Benton County's 8 ZIP codes land in the middle tier — some meet standards cleanly, others carry documented violations, and the gap between the best and worst areas is wider than average.

How Benton County Compares

Benton County69/100
Washington avg78/100
National avg68/100

How Benton County Compares

C
County Grade
69/100
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
21
Water Systems

Benton County scores 9 points below the Washington state average (78/100) and 1 points above the national average (68/100).

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

C
County Grade
69
Avg Safety Score
8
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 99350 (80/100)
Lowest ZIP: 99346 (53/100)
$328K
Median Home Value
$2,125
Avg Remediation (65% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Benton County, Washington

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: 11.7 (asthma 10.8%, diabetes 10.4%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,478, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.32% avg pipe failure probability, 13% of ZIPs at high risk

47.3% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2024)

↑ Worsening trend

EPA violation counts by year across Benton County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
2 (2 health)
2022
9 (9 health)
2023
16 (16 health)
2024
4 (4 health)

Peak year: 2023 with 16 violations. Past 5 years: 31 total (31 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

Asthma 10.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.4% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 36.2% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1986
Median Build Year
47.3%
Pre-1978 Housing
32%
Pipe Failure Probability
13%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
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: $1,478

Flood $775/yr
Energy Code Gap $315/yr
Wildfire $300/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

68,392 housing units in Benton County

Pre-1940 3%
1940–1959 18%
1960–1979 26%
1980–1999 22%
2000+ 31%

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 Benton County

$328K
Median Home Value
$2,125
Est. Remediation Cost
0.6%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Benton 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 Benton County residents

Asthma 10.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 10.4% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 36.2% (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 5 systems in Benton County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 City of Kennewick 114,468 26
2 Summit View Water System 1,869 26
3 Bc Water Company 1,262 26
4 Badger Mountain Irrigation District 2,331 26
5 Community Sewer and Water District 1,200 26

21 total water systems serve Benton County.

All ZIP Codes in Benton County

8 ZIP codes tracked in Benton County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 99350 Prosser 80 B 6 $289K
2 99320 Benton City 78 B 0 $300K
3 99352 Richland 78 B 0 $442K
4 99354 Richland 78 B 0 $355K
5 99353 West Richland 72 B 7 $408K
6 99336 Kennewick 58 C 13 (7 health) $292K
7 99338 Kennewick 58 C 13 (7 health) $527K
8 99346 Plymouth 53 D 0 $215K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Benton County

Editorial-only picks, screened against the EPA detections on file.

Overview

Benton County in Washington covers 8 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of C (69/100).

4 of 8 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 14 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Washington water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Benton County?
Benton 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 Benton County?
Benton County is served by 21 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 8 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Benton County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Benton County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,478 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Benton County?
The median home build year in Benton County is 1986. 47.3% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Benton County compare to Washington?
Benton County has an average water safety score of 69/100, which is below the Washington state average of 78/100.

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