Fort Mitchell, AL: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 82/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Fort Mitchell: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Looking at federal monitoring data for Fort Mitchell, AL: the city clears benchmarks set under the Safe Drinking Water Act with room to spare - recorded exceedances are rare, and the systems serving local households have not triggered any pattern of repeat deficiencies in recent cycles.
How Fort Mitchell Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Fort Mitchell Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 7 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0013 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 23% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 15.83 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Fort Mitchell
Water supply in Fort Mitchell, AL follows a divided structure: 2 utilities account for the largest share of residential service out of 2 total systems, each managing its own distribution network and EPA reporting. Because these systems operate independently, rate decisions and compliance outcomes are determined separately.
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Fort Mitchell, Alabama (population ~8,825), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 30,432 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Fort Mitchell: B (82/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Fort Mitchell water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0013 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 2 | 1 |
| Radium-226 | Radionuclides | 2 | 1 |
| Radium-228 | Radionuclides | 2 | 1 |
| Contaminant 4100 | Other | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36856 | B | 7 | 1 | Ft Mitchell Water System, Inc. |
All ZIP Codes in Fort Mitchell
- 36856 [B] - 7 violations ⚠
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Fort Mitchell
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Fort Mitchell Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Fort Mitchell
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Banned from residential plumbing in 1986, lead solder was a near-universal feature of copper plumbing before that cutoff. In Fort Mitchell, where the median build year is 2018, the majority of housing falls into the post-ban category - though the older fraction of the stock still carries the residual risk that comes with pre-1986 pipe and solder materials.
Most homes in Fort Mitchell were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Fort Mitchell Homeowners
Low proportionality - that's the Fort Mitchell picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Fort Mitchell are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$3,300 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 53% above the Alabama average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Fort Mitchell
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states there is no safe level of lead exposure for children. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Through the multi-year window of EPA Lead and Copper Rule monitoring, Fort Mitchell has stayed under the action mark. Paired with a 23% pre-rule housing share, the result places lead in a lower-priority spot on the local picture - without erasing the structural gap between citywide averages and what arrives at one specific tap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Fort Mitchell
Historical NFIP data for Fort Mitchell contains 8 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $96,506. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The <strong>$2,200</strong> remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Fort Mitchell, AL