Common questions about your home’s environment
Short answers with links to the public agency sources. Each page also says what the free Ground Report score checks and what it does not.
How do I check if my home has lead pipes?
Ask your water utility what its service line inventory lists for your address, then look at the pipe where water enters your home using EPA’s free Protect Your Tap guide. Only a water test tells you whether there is lead in your water.
Read the full answer and sources →What do EPA radon Zones 1, 2 and 3 mean?
EPA’s Map of Radon Zones puts each county in one of three zones by radon potential: in Zone 1, average indoor levels may be greater than 4 pCi/L; in Zone 2, between 2 and 4 pCi/L; in Zone 3, less than 2 pCi/L. It describes county geology, not your house. EPA says homes with elevated radon have been found in all three zones, so every home should be tested.
Read the full answer and sources →How do I find my FEMA flood zone?
Enter your address on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center (msc.fema.gov). It shows the effective Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) for your location and the flood zone at the pin. Zones starting with A or V are FEMA’s high-risk Special Flood Hazard Area.
Read the full answer and sources →How do I read my water quality report (CCR)?
Your Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) is the annual drinking water quality report your water system must send by July 1. Find it through your utility or EPA’s CCR search tool. Then compare each detected contaminant’s level with its legal limit (MCL) and its health goal (MCLG), and check for any violations.
Read the full answer and sources →