Palos Park, IL: Lead Above EPA Limits - Home Safety 68/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Palos Park: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Drilling into federal monitoring figures for Palos Park in IL, the pattern is middle-of-the-road - some utilities have documented MCL exceedances or treatment technique violations in recent years, while others have operated without a single flag, making the city's grade a genuine average rather than a rounded-down high.
How Palos Park Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Palos Park Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 11 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.02 mg/L - exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 61% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,900 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.18.
Palos Park's Water Providers
Water service in Palos Park, IL is split across 3 utilities out of 5 tracked federally, each operating its own infrastructure and compliance record.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Palos Park, Illinois (population ~9,889), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 81,319 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. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Palos Park: C (68/100)
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
Palos Park water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0200 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60464 | C | 11 | 2 | Orland Park |
All ZIP Codes in Palos Park
- 60464 [C] - 11 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.
Palos Park Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Palos Park's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Palos Park Infrastructure Age
With 61% 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
Federal plumbing rules changed in two stages - lead pipes were phased out before 1970, and lead solder was banned in 1986 - but in Palos Park, where the median build year is 1987, most of the housing was already in place before those rules took effect. The materials installed under older standards remain embedded in a substantial portion of the residential inventory today.
Over half of homes in Palos Park 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Palos Park
Low proportionality - that's the Palos Park picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Palos Park are relatively low compared to home values. The $950–$3,200 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 152% above the Illinois average.
Palos Park: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
When older interior plumbing dominates the local inventory at 61% - as in Palos Park - and citywide samples cross the federal benchmark, an in-home test moves from optional into a near-default step, particularly where small kids or pregnant residents share an address.
<strong>1 ZIP code</strong> (100% of the city) exceeds the EPA lead action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Palos Park: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Palos Park contains 23 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $15,842. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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>$1,900</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.
What You Can Do in Palos Park
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Lead testing is especially recommended given the area's lead levels.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Surface Water Treatment Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Palos Park's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 61% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Palos Park, IL