Home hazard report for 20523 — Washington, DC
ZIP 20523 is served by D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (as listed by the state): no health-based violations since 2016, latest lead result 2 ppb, PFAS 2 detected. District of Columbia is in EPA radon zone 3.
No health-based violations reported since 2016.
90th-percentile lead in the latest round (Jan 2026). Lead comes mostly from household plumbing and service lines, so individual homes can be higher.
PFAS were detected, with PFOA and PFOS below 4.0 ppt (highest not detected).
Predicted average under 2 pCi/L — but any home can have high radon, so EPA still recommends a test.
The nearest active Superfund site is 3.5 miles away.
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Where ZIP 20523 is
blue: utility service area · scroll or pinch to zoomDrinking water: D.C. Water and Sewer Authority
Health-based violations
No health-based violations reported since 2016.
Lead
90th-percentile lead per sampling round (90% of the homes sampled were at or below this level). Black line: EPA’s 15 ppb action level; under the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements the action level becomes 10 ppb from 2027.
PFAS (“forever chemicals”)
| Compound | Highest result | Samples with detection | EPA limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFPeA | 4.7 ppt | 2 of 8 | — |
| PFHxA | 3.1 ppt | 1 of 8 | — |
| PFOS | not detected | 0 of 8 | 4 ppt MCL |
| PFNA | not detected | 0 of 8 | — |
| PFOA | not detected | 0 of 8 | 4 ppt MCL |
| PFBS | not detected | 0 of 8 | — |
| PFHpA | not detected | 0 of 8 | — |
| HFPO-DA (GenX) | not detected | 0 of 8 | — |
| PFHxS | not detected | 0 of 8 | — |
| PFBA | not detected | 0 of 8 | — |
| PFDA | not detected | 0 of 8 | — |
EPA Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 5), samples 2023–2025; ppt = parts per trillion (ng/L). The 4.0 ppt maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS were set by EPA in 2024; water systems have until the end of the decade to comply.
Radon in District of Columbia
EPA radon zone 3 — low potential. Predicted average under 2 pCi/L — but any home can have high radon, so EPA still recommends a test.
Radon is a colorless, odorless radioactive gas from soil and rock, and the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. EPA recommends fixing a home at 4 pCi/L or above and considering it from 2 pCi/L. A short-term test kit costs about $15–30. How radon zones work →
Superfund sites nearby
| Site | Status | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Navy Yard Washington, District of Columbia · EPA ID DC9170024310 | Active (final NPL) | 3.5 mi |
EPA Superfund National Priorities List (NPL): the country’s most serious known hazardous-waste sites, each with an EPA cleanup record (linked). Distance is measured from the ZIP center to the site’s reference point; being near a site does not by itself mean exposure — EPA site pages describe what was found and how it is being cleaned up.
What this is — and isn’t. These are records your water utility and state reported to the EPA, and the EPA’s radon map for your county. They describe the system and the area, not the water from your own tap or the air in your home. For that, read your utility’s annual Consumer Confidence Report and test: lead and radon tests are inexpensive.
Questions about 20523
Who supplies drinking water to ZIP 20523?
D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (EPA ID DC0000002), a surface water (rivers, lakes) system serving about 632,323 people, listed by the state as serving this ZIP code.
Is there lead in Washington, DC tap water?
The utility’s latest 90th-percentile lead result (Jan 2026) was 2 ppb; EPA’s action level is 15 ppb, falling to 10 ppb from 2027. Lead mostly comes from service lines and home plumbing, so the only way to know your tap is to test it.
Does Washington, DC water have PFAS?
PFAS were detected, with PFOA and PFOS below 4.0 ppt (highest not detected).
Has the water system in 20523 had violations?
No health-based violations reported since 2016.
Are there Superfund sites near 20523?
The nearest active Superfund site is 3.5 miles away. Sites within 10 miles: Washington Navy Yard (3.5 mi, Active (final NPL)).
Is radon a problem in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia is in EPA radon zone 3 (low potential). Predicted average under 2 pCi/L — but any home can have high radon, so EPA still recommends a test.