Sergeant Bluff, IA: 2 Violations - Home Safety 66/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Sergeant Bluff: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Water systems across Sergeant Bluff produce average compliance results for IA overall - pockets with documented violations exist, and the variation between areas makes checking the specific system serving a given address the most useful step for residents here.
How Sergeant Bluff Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Sergeant Bluff Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.004 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 39% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.32 - above typical levels.
Sergeant Bluff's Water Providers
2 water utilities share the residential service territory in Sergeant Bluff, IA - out of 2 total systems in federal records.
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa (population ~5,596), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 90,806 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. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Sergeant Bluff: C (66/100)
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
Sergeant Bluff water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0040 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 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51054 | C | 2 | 0 | Sergeant Bluff Water Supply |
All ZIP Codes in Sergeant Bluff
- 51054 [C] - 2 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.
Sergeant Bluff Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Sergeant Bluff's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Sergeant Bluff Infrastructure Age
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
For a city with a median build year of 1994, Sergeant Bluff carries a housing profile that straddles the 1986 federal ban on lead solder in plumbing. Neither predominantly new nor predominantly old, the stock presents a moderate aggregate risk environment - with individual risk varying sharply depending on when and where a specific home was built.
Most homes in Sergeant Bluff 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Sergeant Bluff
Low proportionality - that's the Sergeant Bluff picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Sergeant Bluff are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,600–$3,300 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 78% above the Iowa average.
Sergeant Bluff: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Wherever 39% of local housing was built before solder rules changed - as is the case in Sergeant Bluff - a faucet-level sample closes the gap that aggregate utility data cannot.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Sergeant Bluff: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Sergeant Bluff contains 2 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $4,953. 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>$2,400</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.
What You Can Do in Sergeant Bluff
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Sergeant Bluff's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 39% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Sergeant Bluff, IA