Red Bud, IL: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 71/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Red Bud: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Water systems in Red Bud, IL serve households with few reported safety events.
How Red Bud Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Red Bud Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 36 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.006 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 60% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.47 - above typical levels.
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Red Bud, Illinois (population ~6,425), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 13,994 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 Red Bud: B (71/100)
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
Red Bud water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0060 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 1 |
| Lead | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| Copper | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62278 | B | 36 | 2 | Red Bud |
All ZIP Codes in Red Bud
- 62278 [B] - 36 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.
Health Outcomes in Red Bud
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 Red Bud Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Red Bud
With 60% 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
Pre-1986 plumbing is not a rare legacy case in Red Bud - it's the dominant profile. The median build year of 1973 indicates a housing stock where lead-soldered copper joints are a common structural feature of residences across the city.
Over half of homes in Red Bud 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 Red Bud Homeowners
In Red Bud, 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 Red Bud are relatively low compared to home values. The $150–$1,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 1% below the Illinois average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Red Bud
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.
Older interior plumbing shapes the local picture: 60% of Red Bud homes predate the federal solder ban, and aggregate sampling either approaches or crosses the action benchmark. That mix makes a single-home draw a standard pre-purchase or pre-occupancy step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Red Bud, IL