Highwood, IL: Lead Above EPA Action Level - Home Safety 81/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Highwood: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Highwood, IL: a top-two-band grade.
How Highwood Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Highwood Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.076 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
- Homes built before 1986: 75% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $4,500 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 11.37.
Water Systems Serving Highwood
Multiple utilities show up for Highwood, IL: 2 are listed here out of 2 tracked federally.
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Highwood, Illinois (population ~5,243), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 35,511 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Highwood: B (81/100)
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
Highwood water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0760 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60040 | B | 2 | 0 | Highwood |
All ZIP Codes in Highwood
- 60040 [B] - 2 violations
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 Highwood
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 Highwood
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Highwood's Housing Stock?
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
If you live in one of the pre-1986 homes in Highwood, a certified lab test for lead is the direct way to learn what your tap delivers; the median build year of 1951 is only context.
Over half of homes in Highwood 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.
Highwood: Remediation Cost in Perspective
This section sets two area figures side by side for Highwood: the median home value and an estimated remediation cost. Here the estimate equals no more than 1% of that value, which places the city in the low tier; it is an area estimate, and the cost for any one property can be higher or lower.
Estimated remediation costs in Highwood can be compared with local home values. The $3,000–$6,000 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 147% above the Illinois average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Highwood
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.
How much lead reaches a given Highwood faucet depends on that building's service line and plumbing, and area data cannot settle it. What the data do show is an average of 90th-percentile lead results above 0.015 mg/L across the city's ZIP codes and a housing stock that is 75% pre-1986. The utility's lead service line inventory and a certified laboratory tap test are direct checks for a household.
1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Highwood, IL