CITY REPORT IL HEALTH VIOLATIONS: 1

Des Plaines, IL: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 59/100

4 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Des Plaines: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Des Plaines, IL: a C, mid-scale.

How Des Plaines Compares

Des Plaines59/100
Illinois avg68/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

4
ZIP Codes
9
Water Systems
2
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
C · 59
Avg Safety Score
Zone 2
County Radon Potential (Moderate)
$302K
Median Home Value
$300
Est. Remediation (0.1% of home value)

Des Plaines Water: The Quick Version

  • Your city's water systems recorded 42 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0111 mg/L.
  • Estimated remediation: $300 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.18.

Water Systems Serving Des Plaines

Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 3 shown below do not apply to the others among the 9 tied to Des Plaines, IL.

Overview

We track home safety data for 4 ZIP codes in Des Plaines, Illinois (population ~89,822), covering 9 community water systems serving approximately 182,047 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 4 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 Des Plaines: C (59/100)

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

Des Plaines water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0111 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

4 of 4 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
Consumer Confidence Rule Reporting 17 2
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) Radionuclides 9 2
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 8 2
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 5 2
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) Disinfection Byproducts 5 2

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
60016 C 27 0 Des Plaines
60018 C 24 1 Des Plaines

All ZIP Codes in Des Plaines

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

CDC Health Data for Des Plaines

9.8%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
11.8%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
14.9%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

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

Asthma 9.8% ↓
Diabetes 11.8% ↑
Mental Health 14.9% ↑

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

Key Contaminants Detected in Des Plaines

Consumer Confidence Rule 17 violations
Reporting
Combined Radium (-226 and -228) 9 violations
Radionuclides · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 5 pCi/L
Lead and Copper Rule 8 violations
Treatment Technique
Developmental delays in children, kidney damage

Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.

Des Plaines: Remediation Cost in Perspective

Measured against the median home value, the estimated cost of fixing the issues flagged for Des Plaines lands in the lowest of the three tiers this page uses.

Median Home Value
$302,400
Est. Remediation
$300
Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Estimated remediation costs in Des Plaines can be compared with local home values. The $150–$600 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 64% above the Illinois average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Des Plaines

0.0111
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

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.

Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Des Plaines

1,819
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$23,932
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
100%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Des Plaines contains 1,819 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $23,932. 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 $300 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 Des Plaines

  1. Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
  2. Install a certified water filter. For Consumer Confidence Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Des Plaines: 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.
  3. Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Des Plaines, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Des Plaines, IL?
Des Plaines has an average Home Safety Score of 59/100 (Grade C) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. 42 violations appear in EPA records for water systems mapped to these ZIP codes. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving Des Plaines?
EPA records list 42 EPA violations, including 1 health-based violation for Des Plaines water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 4 mapped ZIP codes.
Does Des Plaines water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Des Plaines is 0.0111 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Des Plaines compare to Illinois average?
Des Plaines has an average Home Safety Score of 59/100, which is below the Illinois state average of 68/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Des Plaines?
Our records map 9 water systems to 4 ZIP codes in Des Plaines. The related population figure in our data is approximately 89,822 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Des Plaines?
Estimated remediation cost per household in Des Plaines: $300; modeled range $150 to $600. Estimated costs may include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, or flood protection where applicable.
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How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Des Plaines, IL: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 59/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/il/des-plaines/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-il-des-plaines,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Des Plaines, IL: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 59/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/il/des-plaines/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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