Alto Pass's tap water quality puts it in IL's upper tier — health-based violations are rare and the compliance record is consistently above average.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

Overview

We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Alto Pass, Illinois, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 741 people.

No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Alto Pass — an excellent indicator of water quality.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Alto Pass: B (83/100)

The score combines three factors:

Factor	What It Measures
Water Quality	EPA violations and compliance history
Lead Levels	90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level
Radon Risk	EPA radon zone classification

Water Sources

Alto Pass water systems draw from: Groundwater.

Lead & Copper

• Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0030 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
• 0 ZIP codes 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.

Areas with No Violations

All ZIP Codes in Alto Pass

• 62905 [B]

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

Updated daily.

Housing Age Profile

Viewed through the lens of construction era, Alto Pass is predominantly an older city — a median build year of 1975 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.

1975

Median Year Built

68%

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

33%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Pre-1970 (33%) 1970–1986 (35%) Post-1986 (32%)

Over half of homes in Alto Pass 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.

How Remediation Costs Compare in Alto Pass

When remediation costs are measured against Alto Pass home values, the resulting ratio is in the low tier — addressing documented water and safety issues here claims only a minor fraction of typical equity, and most homeowners are in a position where the financial commitment is straightforward rather than a material burden on their household budget.

Median Home Value

$114,800

Est. Remediation

$400

Remediation as % of home value 0.4%

Remediation costs in Alto Pass are relatively low compared to home values. The $0–$800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 38% below the Illinois average.

Alto Pass: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

68%

Homes Built Before 1986

0.003

mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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.

If 68% of the Alto Pass inventory comes from before the federal ban on lead-bearing solder — and if utility samples sit at or near 0.015 mg/L — the gap between citywide averages and one specific faucet becomes a practical concern rather than a theoretical one. That is why one-home reads exist as a separate measurement. A certified filter through retailer networks addresses confirmed exposure where it appears in a household.

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