2026 Rankings

Worst Infrastructure: Washington — 2026 Rankings

Last updated: October 15, 2026

573 ZIP codes ranked by Infrastructure Stress Indicator #1: ZIP 98583 (Satsop, WA) - 69/100

Out of 573 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in Washington, these areas have the highest modeled infrastructure stress indicator values, computed from area-level data on infrastructure age, funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. The indicator is not a measured failure probability or forecast.

Statistic Value
ZIP codes ranked 573
Highest stress indicator 69/100
Median stress indicator 33/100
Average stress indicator 36/100
State Washington

Top 100 ZIP Codes by Infrastructure Stress

Rank ZIP Code City State Infrastructure Stress Stress Level Safety Score
1 98583 Satsop WA 69/100 Very High —
2 98539 Doty WA 67/100 Very High —
3 99103 Almira WA 65/100 Very High —
4 98858 Waterville WA 64/100 Very High —
5 99125 Endicott WA 64/100 Very High —
6 99135 Hartline WA 64/100 Very High —
7 99149 Malden WA 64/100 Very High —
8 99170 Rosalia WA 64/100 Very High —
9 99176 Thornton WA 64/100 Very High —
10 99371 Washtucna WA 64/100 Very High —
11 98581 Ryderwood WA 63/100 Very High —
12 98582 Salkum WA 63/100 Very High —
13 99012 Fairfield WA 63/100 Very High —
14 99128 Farmington WA 63/100 Very High —
15 99158 Oakesdale WA 63/100 Very High —
16 98586 South Bend WA 62/100 Very High 100/100
17 98628 Klickitat WA 62/100 Very High —
18 99116 Coulee Dam WA 62/100 Very High —
19 99143 Lacrosse WA 62/100 Very High —
20 99341 Lind WA 62/100 Very High —
21 98821 Dryden WA 61/100 Very High —
22 99130 Garfield WA 61/100 Very High —
23 99159 Odessa WA 61/100 Very High —
24 99174 Steptoe WA 61/100 Very High —
25 99328 Dayton WA 61/100 Very High —
26 98255 Hamilton WA 60/100 High —
27 98283 Rockport WA 60/100 High —
28 98314 Bremerton WA 60/100 High 100/100
29 98621 Grays River WA 60/100 High —
30 98673 Wishram WA 60/100 High —
31 98830 Mansfield WA 60/100 High —
32 98832 Marlin WA 60/100 High —
33 98860 Wilson Creek WA 60/100 High —
34 99017 Lamont WA 60/100 High —
35 99018 Latah WA 60/100 High —
36 99032 Sprague WA 60/100 High —
37 99033 Tekoa WA 60/100 High —
38 99134 Harrington WA 60/100 High —
39 99169 Ritzville WA 60/100 High —
40 99171 Saint John WA 60/100 High —
41 99347 Pomeroy WA 60/100 High —
42 99359 Starbuck WA 60/100 High —
43 99152 Metaline WA 59/100 High —
44 99153 Metaline Falls WA 59/100 High —
45 99161 Palouse WA 59/100 High —
46 99204 Spokane WA 59/100 High 50/100
47 98526 Amanda Park WA 58/100 High —
48 98566 Neilton WA 58/100 High —
49 98950 Vantage WA 58/100 High —
50 99133 Grand Coulee WA 58/100 High —
51 99207 Spokane WA 58/100 High 50/100
52 99335 Kahlotus WA 58/100 High —
53 98288 Skykomish WA 57/100 High —
54 98585 Silver Creek WA 57/100 High —
55 98845 Palisades WA 57/100 High —
56 98946 Thorp WA 57/100 High —
57 99102 Albion WA 57/100 High —
58 99185 Wilbur WA 57/100 High —
59 99203 Spokane WA 57/100 High 50/100
60 99361 Waitsburg WA 57/100 High —
61 98356 Morton WA 56/100 High —
62 98418 Tacoma WA 56/100 High 100/100
63 98575 Quinault WA 56/100 High —
64 99124 Elmer City WA 56/100 High —
65 99160 Orient WA 56/100 High —
66 99201 Spokane WA 56/100 High 50/100
67 99329 Dixie WA 56/100 High —
68 98008 Bellevue WA 55/100 High 100/100
69 98222 Blakely Island WA 55/100 High —
70 98224 Baring WA 55/100 High —
71 98403 Tacoma WA 55/100 High 100/100
72 98824 George WA 55/100 High —
73 98256 Index WA 54/100 High —
74 98619 Glenwood WA 54/100 High —
75 98644 Seaview WA 54/100 High 100/100
76 98952 White Swan WA 54/100 High —
77 99140 Keller WA 54/100 High —
78 99321 Beverly WA 54/100 High —
79 99326 Connell WA 54/100 High —
80 98405 Tacoma WA 53/100 High 100/100
81 98112 Seattle WA 52/100 High 100/100
82 98117 Seattle WA 52/100 High 100/100
83 98939 Parker WA 52/100 High —
84 98941 Roslyn WA 52/100 High —
85 98408 Tacoma WA 51/100 High 100/100
86 98605 Bingen WA 51/100 High —
87 98663 Vancouver WA 51/100 High 50/100
88 98199 Seattle WA 50/100 High 100/100
89 98406 Tacoma WA 50/100 High 100/100
90 98631 Long Beach WA 50/100 High 100/100
91 99151 Marcus WA 50/100 High —
92 99354 Richland WA 50/100 High 67/100
93 98136 Seattle WA 49/100 High 100/100
94 98263 Lyman WA 49/100 High —
95 98572 Pe Ell WA 49/100 High —
96 98115 Seattle WA 48/100 High 100/100
97 98134 Seattle WA 48/100 High 100/100
98 98166 Seattle WA 48/100 High 100/100
99 98177 Seattle WA 48/100 High 100/100
100 98624 Ilwaco WA 48/100 High —

Methodology

Infrastructure stress rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment (DWINSA 2023) — state-level 20-year infrastructure need per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) available Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and testing results. The combined value is a normalized 0-100 comparative stress indicator, not a measured pipe-failure probability or a forecast.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-10-15.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the infrastructure stress indicator mean?

The indicator summarizes infrastructure funding gaps, housing age, violation history, and lead indicators on a 0-100 scale. It is a comparative heuristic, not a measured pipe-failure probability or a forecast of a water-main break.

How is infrastructure stress calculated?

The indicator combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure need per capita (EPA DWINSA 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system compliance history (EPA SDWIS), and available lead indicators.

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Ask your water utility or health department about testing your tap water, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. If you use a filter, choose one certified under NSF/ANSI 53 for the specific contaminant, such as lead. Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high stress mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure stress is a screening indicator of long-term vulnerability, not a measurement of current contamination or a prediction of failure. For current conditions, check utility notices and the latest Consumer Confidence Report, and test your tap for contaminants of concern.

Explore More Rankings

How this ranking is calculated, data sources, and limitations: Rankings Methodology →


Related Rankings

Water Safety 2026 EPA violations and water quality scores Lead Risk 2026 Lead service-line indicators and system-level action-level exceedances Infrastructure 2026 Aging pipes, system age and remediation costs
Disclaimer: Rankings are based on EPA, FEMA, and federal agency data. They reflect historical patterns and risk indicators, not necessarily current conditions. For the most current information, contact your local water utility or request a Consumer Confidence Report.

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