Elgin, IL: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 57/100
4 ZIP codes · 9 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Elgin: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
For most households in Elgin, IL tap water is adequate - the middle-tier grade reflects gaps in specific service areas.
How Elgin Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Elgin Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 34 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0068 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 52% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $4,045 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.61.
Water Systems Serving Elgin
Residential addresses in Elgin, IL are served by 3 primary water providers out of 9 systems in federal records. Each system maintains separate infrastructure and files its own EPA compliance reports, so service conditions are not uniform across the city.
- D
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 4 ZIP codes in Elgin, Illinois (population ~123,995), covering 9 community water systems serving approximately 289,243 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 4 ZIP codes.
3 of 3 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 Elgin: C (57/100)
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
Elgin water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0068 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 4 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 20 | 3 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 18 | 3 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 3 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 3 |
| Gross Beta | Radionuclides | 7 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60124 | D | 31 | 1 | Elgin |
| 60120 | C | 17 | 1 | Elgin |
| 60123 | C | 17 | 1 | Elgin |
All ZIP Codes in Elgin
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.
CDC Health Data for Elgin
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Elgin
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Elgin's Housing Stock?
With 52% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. The EPA banned lead solder in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
For residents trying to assess tap water risk in Elgin, the median build year of 1981 is the starting context. It signals that a majority of homes were constructed before 1986 - the year federal rules prohibited lead solder in new plumbing - and that a significant share likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still a common choice for residential service connections. Neither risk tier is rare in this housing inventory.
Over half of homes in Elgin 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.
Elgin: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Is remediation financially manageable for Elgin homeowners? At a moderate equity share, generally yes - with deliberate budgeting ahead of time.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Elgin. The estimated $2,355–$6,110 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 32% above the Illinois average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Elgin
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.
Before the federal solder ban, lead solder was a routine plumbing material, and 52% of the Elgin inventory was built in that earlier era - a share large enough to move household-level reads onto the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Elgin
Historical NFIP data for Elgin contains 165 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $16,018. 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>$4,045</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 Elgin
- 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 Chlorite can reduce the most common contaminant found in Elgin's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 52% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Elgin, IL