Whatcom County, Washington
16 ZIP codes · Avg score 88/100 · Grade A · Updated 2026-06-03
Tracking 16 ZIP codes in Whatcom County shows a water safety record well above the national median — violations are isolated exceptions, not recurring patterns.
How Whatcom County Compares
How Whatcom County Compares
Whatcom County scores 10 points above the Washington state average (78/100) and 20 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Whatcom County, Washington
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 10.8 (asthma 10.7%, diabetes 8.8%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,674, driven primarily by flood
Infrastructure: 0.291% avg pipe failure probability, 6% of ZIPs at high risk
44.7% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
↑ Worsening trendEPA violation counts by year across Whatcom County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 6 violations. Past 5 years: 17 total (17 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: $1,674
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
75,692 housing units in Whatcom 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 Whatcom County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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 Whatcom County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Deer Creek Water Assoc. | 2,000 | 17 |
| 2 | Lynden Water Department | 17,969 | 17 |
| 3 | Pole Road Water Association | 1,545 | 13 |
| 4 | Old Settlers Water Association | 540 | 13 |
| 5 | Custer Water Association | 365 | 13 |
43 total water systems serve Whatcom County.
All ZIP Codes in Whatcom County
16 ZIP codes tracked in Whatcom County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 98231 | Blaine | 99 | A | 1 | — |
| 2 | 98227 | Bellingham | 93 | A | 2 | — |
| 3 | 98240 | Custer | 92 | A | 7 | $566K |
| 4 | 98266 | Maple Falls | 91 | A | 2 | $358K |
| 5 | 98230 | Blaine | 90 | A | 1 | $468K |
| 6 | 98244 | Deming | 90 | A | 0 | $432K |
| 7 | 98220 | Acme | 89 | A | 2 | $461K |
| 8 | 98264 | Lynden | 89 | A | 4 (1 health) | $538K |
| 9 | 98229 | Bellingham | 88 | A | 2 | $565K |
| 10 | 98281 | Point Roberts | 88 | A | 1 | $461K |
| 11 | 98262 | Lummi Island | 85 | A | 11 (4 health) | $529K |
| 12 | 98276 | Nooksack | 85 | A | 0 | $485K |
| 13 | 98226 | Bellingham | 83 | B | 2 | $568K |
| 14 | 98248 | Ferndale | 82 | B | 5 | $550K |
| 15 | 98295 | Sumas | 80 | B | 0 | $408K |
| 16 | 98247 | Everson | 78 | B | 2 | $514K |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Whatcom County
Filtered against federal data, fitted to local risks.
- Best Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis Systems — Multi-contaminant removal at the kitchen tap
- Best Sump Pumps — Flood is the top compound risk factor
- Best Mold Test Kits — Flood-driven moisture and mold risk
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Whatcom County, Washington
Overview
Whatcom County in Washington covers 16 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of A (88/100).
13 of 16 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 5 health-based violations have been documented.
← Back to Washington 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.