Crystal Lake, IL: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 67/100
3 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Crystal Lake: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Crystal Lake, IL holds a middle-tier grade; review the underlying water system records for the reasons behind it.
How Crystal Lake Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Crystal Lake Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 76 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0077 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 46% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $550 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.76.
Crystal Lake's Water Providers
Multiple utilities show up for Crystal Lake, IL: 3 are listed here out of 9 tracked federally.
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Crystal Lake, Illinois (population ~60,312), covering 9 community water systems serving approximately 118,300 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 3 ZIP codes.
2 of 2 ZIP codes 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 Crystal Lake: C (67/100)
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
Crystal Lake water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0077 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 2 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
3 of 3 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 7 | 2 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 7 | 2 |
| Trichloroethylene | Organic | 5 | 2 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 5 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60014 | C | 76 | 1 | Crystal Lake |
| 60012 | — | 47 | 1 | Crystal Lake |
All ZIP Codes in Crystal Lake
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.
Crystal Lake Community Health Snapshot
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
What's in Crystal Lake's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Crystal Lake Infrastructure Age
With 46% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Plumbing materials follow installation dates, not medians. Crystal Lake records a median build year of 1992, and a meaningful share of its homes date from before the 1986 federal lead restrictions.
Most homes in Crystal Lake were built after 1986; lead exposure at a tap still depends on its service line and plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Crystal Lake
How large is the remediation estimate next to home prices in Crystal Lake? Small in relative terms: it amounts to 1% of the median value or less, although the dollar figure below is still an estimate and actual costs vary by property and contractor.
Estimated remediation costs in Crystal Lake can be compared with local home values. The $300–$1,000 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 116% above the Illinois average.
Crystal Lake: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Crystal Lake: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Crystal Lake contains 99 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $11,606. 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 $550 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 Crystal Lake
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Lead and Copper Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Crystal Lake: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 46% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Crystal Lake, IL