CITY REPORT IL HEALTH VIOLATIONS: 1

Downers Grove, IL: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 78/100

2 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Downers Grove: B.

This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.

In the dataset behind this page, Downers Grove, IL receives one of the two highest grades; read the compliance history system by system for details.

How Downers Grove Compares

Downers Grove78/100
Illinois avg68/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

2
ZIP Codes
8
Water Systems
2
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
B · 78
Avg Safety Score
Zone 2
County Radon Potential (Moderate)
$453K
Median Home Value
$300
Est. Remediation (0.1% of home value)

What You Should Know About Downers Grove Water

  • Your city's water systems recorded 14 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0066 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 75% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $300 per household.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 10.67.

Who Supplies Your Water in Downers Grove

Sorted by reported population served, the top 3 of 8 public water systems mapped to Downers Grove, IL appear below, each with its own federal compliance record.

Overview

We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Downers Grove, Illinois (population ~57,639), covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 156,998 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 2 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 Downers Grove: B (78/100)

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

Downers Grove water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0066 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

2 of 2 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 14 2
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 8 1
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) Disinfection Byproducts 2 1
Public Notice Rule Reporting 2 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
60515 B 12 1 Downers Grove
60516 B 2 0 Downers Grove

All ZIP Codes in Downers Grove

  • 60515 [B] - 12 violations ⚠
  • 60516 [B] - 2 violations

Data Sources

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

Health Outcomes in Downers Grove

8.9%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
10%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
13.4%
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 8.9% ↓
Diabetes 10% ↓
Mental Health 13.4% ↓

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

Top Contaminants in Downers Grove Water

Consumer Confidence Rule 14 violations
Reporting
Lead and Copper Rule 8 violations
Treatment Technique
Developmental delays in children, kidney damage
Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) 2 violations
Disinfection Byproducts · EPA regulatory level for the contaminant named above: 0.06 mg/L
Increased cancer risk with long-term exposure above the MCL

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

Housing & Infrastructure in Downers Grove

1968
Median Build Year
75%
Built Before 1986
43%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 75% 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

Median construction year in Downers Grove: 1968, set against the 1986 federal lead limits for new plumbing.

1968
Median Year Built
75%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
43%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (43%) 1970–1986 (32%) Post-1986 (25%)

Over half of homes in Downers Grove were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.

Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Downers Grove Homeowners

The remediation-to-value ratio for Downers Grove sits at the bottom of the scale.

Median Home Value
$453,300
Est. Remediation
$300
Remediation as % of home value 0.1%

Estimated remediation costs in Downers Grove 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 146% above the Illinois average.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Downers Grove

75%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0066
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 NFIP Claim Context in Downers Grove

156
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$14,770
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
100%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Downers Grove contains 156 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $14,770. 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.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Downers Grove, IL

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Downers Grove, IL?
Downers Grove has an average Home Safety Score of 78/100 (Grade B) 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. 14 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 Downers Grove?
EPA records list 14 EPA violations, including 1 health-based violation for Downers Grove water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 2 mapped ZIP codes.
Does Downers Grove water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Downers Grove is 0.0066 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 Downers Grove compare to Illinois average?
Downers Grove has an average Home Safety Score of 78/100, which is at or above the Illinois state average of 68/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Downers Grove?
Our records map 8 water systems to 2 ZIP codes in Downers Grove. The related population figure in our data is approximately 57,639 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in Downers Grove?
Estimated remediation cost per household in Downers Grove: $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). Downers Grove, IL: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 78/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/il/downers-grove/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-il-downers-grove,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Downers Grove, IL: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 78/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/il/downers-grove/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

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