Data: EPA SDWIS

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Elk Horn, Iowa, covering 0 community water system serving approximately 943 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 0 of 1 ZIP codes.

EPA water-system violation data is unavailable in the dataset used for this page for the tracked ZIP codes in Elk Horn.

Lead & Copper

• Lead data: not yet available for Elk Horn
• Lead action-level status: not available

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

All ZIP Codes in Elk Horn

• 51531

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.

Housing Age Profile

Heavily weighted toward older construction, Elk Horn's housing stock carries a median build year of 1901. That profile puts a majority of homes in the era when lead-soldered copper plumbing was standard practice.

1901

Median Year Built

94%

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

70%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Pre-1970 (70%) 1970–1986 (24%) Post-1986 (6%)

Over half of homes in Elk Horn were built before 1986, when lead solder was banned. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Elk Horn: Remediation Cost in Perspective

Across Elk Horn, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small - a favorable ratio for most property owners.

Median Home Value

$132,300

Est. Remediation

$1,200

Remediation as % of home value 0.9%

Remediation costs in Elk Horn are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 20% below the Iowa average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Elk Horn

94%

Homes Built Before 1986

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.

When older housing represents 94% of the local inventory or aggregate readings approach the federal action level, an in-home check becomes the standard way to translate citywide averages into the specific reality of an individual Elk Horn address.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.