Evanston, IL: 6 Violations - Home Safety 71/100
6 ZIP codes · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Evanston: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Evanston, IL scores in the upper band of the ZipCheckup grade.
How Evanston Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Evanston Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 6 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0036 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 78% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.59.
Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Evanston, Illinois (population ~81,285), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 140,908 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 6 ZIP codes.
1 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (25%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Evanston: B (71/100)
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
Evanston water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0036 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
6 of 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60203 | C | 6 | 0 | Skokie |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60201 | B | Evanston | 74,486 |
| 60202 | B | Evanston | 74,486 |
| 60208 | — | Evanston | 74,486 |
All ZIP Codes in Evanston
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 Evanston
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Evanston
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Evanston's Housing Stock?
With 78% 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 risk in older housing is tied to the period before 1986, when lead pipes and lead solder were still permitted in new plumbing. Evanston's median build year is 1964, and properties from before that year might still contain lead-bearing joints or pipes. Much of that risk sits inside individual properties, which city-level water quality averages don't capture.
Over half of homes in Evanston 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.
Protecting Children from Lead in Evanston
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 Evanston
Historical NFIP data for Evanston contains 52 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $3,443. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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.
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 Evanston, IL