Palatine, IL: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 72/100
7 ZIP codes · 7 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Palatine: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Unlike many cities its size in IL, Palatine keeps health-based violation rates low - systems here score at or above the state average for tap water safety, with no systemic concerns flagged in the current data set.
How Palatine Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Palatine Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 34 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0083 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,934 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.18.
Who Supplies Your Water in Palatine
Multiple utilities divide Palatine, IL's water service - 3 leading providers among 7 on the federal register.
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 7 ZIP codes in Palatine, Illinois (population ~74,414), covering 7 community water systems serving approximately 323,539 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 7 ZIP codes.
2 of 2 ZIP codes 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 Palatine: B (72/100)
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
Palatine water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0083 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Beta | Radionuclides | 11 | 2 |
| Contaminant 2032 | Other | 6 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 5 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| PFOA | PFAS | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
All ZIP Codes in Palatine
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.
Health Outcomes in Palatine
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
Top Contaminants in Palatine Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Palatine Homeowners
In Palatine, the equity impact of remediation is proportionally small - not the kind of financial commitment that rises to the level of a genuine planning constraint, but a minor share of what most properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Palatine are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,023–$2,903 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 133% above the Illinois average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Palatine
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.
Lead risk in Palatine appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Palatine
Historical NFIP data for Palatine contains 152 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $11,441. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% 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>$1,934</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Palatine, IL