Health Violations Found OR 4 HEALTH VIOLATIONS

City of Brookings

EPA ID: OR4100149 · 7,120 people served · 1 ZIP code

Where compliant utilities carry no open actions, City of Brookings shows 3 active EPA violations in the federal database for a service population of approximately 7,120.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 83
Avg Safety Score
7,120
People Served
1
ZIP Code Served
19
Violations (5yr)
Groundwater
Water Source
0.00125 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
8
Contaminants Flagged
$385K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Worsening · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 1 (2023) to 2 (2025). The pattern suggests growing compliance challenges.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Brookings Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$68,994
Median Household Income
14,271
Service Area Population
60%
Disadvantaged Population
60th
Poverty Percentile
60th
Energy Burden Percentile
52%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Brookings serves a community with a median household income of $68,994 and an estimated 14,271 residents across its service area. Approximately 52% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 60% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Groundwater

City of Brookings's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.

Elevated Risk
Source Contamination Risk
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
10th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 2% of homes in Curry County, Oregon rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.

Infrastructure Risk

42 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
28 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Stable
Decay Status
Installed 60% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Brookings compares to EPA limits

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) 8 mg/L (EXCEEDS LIMIT)
0 EPA Limit: 0.08 mg/L
Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns

What This Means For You

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) at 8 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 0.08 mg/L. Bladder & rectal cancer risk; reproductive concerns. Consider granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration.

E. coli at 3 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.

Lead and Copper Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Contaminant 0700 at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Total Organic Carbon at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) was detected in this water system. granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration can reduce exposure.

Find a certified water filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Oregon

B 21 violations
0 violations
C 65 violations
City of Sheridan
6,494 people
0 violations
Roats Water System
6,469 people
0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,200
Water Filtration $600
Total Estimated Cost $1,800

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $1,500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$7,500
10 years
$15,000
20 years
$30,000

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $1,800 (one-time) vs. $15,000 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

City of Brookings, (EPA ID: OR4100149) is a community water system in Oregon that serves approximately 7,120 people from groundwater sources.

This system serves ZIP code 97415 in Brookings.

Average Home Safety Score: B (83/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

4 health-based violations recorded in the past 5 years. 3 remain unresolved.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
August 30, 2025 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Unresolved
July 1, 2025 E. coli Health-based Unresolved
February 1, 2025 E. coli Health-based Resolved
October 1, 2024 Contaminant 0700 Monitoring Resolved
August 3, 2024 Lead and Copper Rule Monitoring Resolved
May 1, 2024 E. coli Health-based Resolved
January 1, 2024 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Resolved
December 1, 2023 Contaminant 0700 Health-based Resolved
October 1, 2023 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved
April 1, 2023 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Monitoring Unresolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 8 No
E. coli Microbiological 3 Yes
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Contaminant 0700 Other Violation 2 Yes
Total Organic Carbon Disinfection Byproducts 1 No
Stage 1 DBP Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 1 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting Failure 1 No

Health Risk Details

E. coli (EPA limit: Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action))

Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children At-risk groups: children under 5, elderly, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant women.

Removal methods: UV disinfection (99.99%), chlorination, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
97415 0.00125 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by OR or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Brookings (OR4100149) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Brookings water safe to drink?

City of Brookings has recorded 4 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.

How many people does City of Brookings serve?

City of Brookings serves approximately 7,120 people across 1 ZIP code in Oregon.

Where does City of Brookings get its water?

The primary water source is groundwater.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
58

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

0
Confirmed Lead
0
Galvanized — Replacement Required
1,632
Unknown Material
1,824
Confirmed Non-Lead

This system reports zero confirmed lead service lines in its inventory. Unknown-material counts may still warrant verification.

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2023-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 7,120
Reported to Oregon

Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026

ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Brookings safe to drink?
City of Brookings earns a B safety grade with 19 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in City of Brookings's water?
Detected contaminants include Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM), E. coli, Lead and Copper Rule, Contaminant 0700. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 5 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does City of Brookings serve?
City of Brookings serves approximately 7,120 people with drinking water across 1 ZIP code.
What is City of Brookings's water source?
City of Brookings draws water from groundwater sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Brookings's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.00125 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Brookings's service area?
The City of Brookings service area has a median household income of $68,994. EPA EJScreen data classifies 60% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Brookings get its water?
City of Brookings's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table. Based on violation history and environmental factors, the source contamination risk is currently elevated.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

City of Brookings (EPA ID: OR4100149) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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