Grand Tower, IL Water Safety: 70/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated 2026-06-03
Residents of Grand Tower generally live with tap water that beats the IL safety average on key EPA compliance metrics.
How Grand Tower Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Grand Tower Water: The Quick Version
- Homes built before 1986: 84% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.15 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Grand Tower
A single utility carries the primary residential water load in Grand Tower, IL — the dominant provider across 1 federally tracked system.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Grand Tower, Illinois, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 670 people.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Grand Tower — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Grand Tower: B (70/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Grand Tower water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Lead data: not yet available for Grand Tower
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62942 | B | Grand Tower | 559 |
All ZIP Codes in Grand Tower
- 62942 [B]
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
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Grand Tower
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
How Old Is Grand Tower's Housing Stock?
With 84% 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
While newer cities carry lower aggregate plumbing risk from lead-era construction, Grand Tower sits firmly in the older category. The median build year of 1964 indicates that more than half the housing stock was built before 1986, when lead solder was still legally used in residential copper plumbing — and a substantial portion likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still commonly installed for service lines. These two thresholds together define the elevated plumbing risk environment that older housing cities carry, independent of what the municipal water supply delivers to the meter.
Over half of homes in Grand Tower 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.
Grand Tower: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Framing remediation within the Grand Tower property picture, the equity share is elevated — homeowners here are navigating a financial decision that rewards structured thinking about scope and prioritization, where the cost-to-value ratio is high enough to make the difference between a planned approach and an unplanned one financially significant.
At 4.3% of home value, remediation costs in Grand Tower represent a significant financial burden. For homes valued near the median, fixing water and safety issues could cost $800–$2,600. Home values here are 80% below the Illinois average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Grand Tower
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.
Wherever 84% of local housing was built before solder rules changed — as is the case in Grand Tower — a faucet-level sample closes the gap that aggregate utility data cannot.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Grand Tower
Grand Tower's flood exposure sits in the moderate range: 15 NFIP claims on record and 100% of ZIP codes within FEMA-designated flood zones. Residents with private wells or older infrastructure have reasonable grounds to factor flood timing into their water quality awareness.
Grand Tower has a moderate flood history with 15 FEMA claims averaging $3,835 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$1,600</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Grand Tower, IL