Palos Hills, IL Water Safety: 73/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 4 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
EPA compliance records for Palos Hills tell a largely clear story: violation rates are low, health-based exceedances are uncommon, and the city's grade puts it well above average within IL.
How Palos Hills Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Palos Hills Water
- Average lead level: 0.0008 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 76% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.18.
Who Supplies Your Water in Palos Hills
Residential addresses in Palos Hills, IL are served by 3 primary water providers out of 4 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.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Palos Hills, Illinois (population ~18,139), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 60,472 people region-wide.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Palos Hills — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Palos Hills: B (73/100)
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
Palos Hills water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0008 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60465 | B | Palos Hills | 18,530 |
All ZIP Codes in Palos Hills
- 60465 [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.
Health Outcomes in Palos Hills
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
Housing & Infrastructure in Palos Hills
With 76% 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
What does a median build year of 1973 mean for water safety in Palos Hills? It means the majority of the city's residential plumbing was installed before 1986, when lead solder was federally banned, and a large share may predate 1970, when lead pipes were commonly used — making plumbing age a central variable in household-level lead risk across much of the city.
Over half of homes in Palos Hills 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Palos Hills Homeowners
In Palos Hills, property values comfortably outpace what documented remediation typically costs — the equity share is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Palos Hills are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 41% above the Illinois average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Palos Hills
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.
76% of Palos Hills housing dates to the pre-rule era, alongside aggregate readings hovering at the federal action mark — household-level confirmation through a draw-test kit fits the local picture.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Palos Hills
Flood activity in Palos Hills is neither negligible nor at the level of the highest-exposure areas in the NFIP dataset. The 80-claim record and 100% flood zone coverage suggest a community that has experienced recurrent events but has not faced the kind of sustained, severe exposure where water-supply contamination becomes a primary public health concern. It sits in a middle range where flood history merits inclusion in any complete local water quality picture.
Palos Hills has a moderate flood history with 80 FEMA claims averaging $4,164 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 Palos Hills, IL