Rochester, IL: 72 Violations - Home Safety 53/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Rochester: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Unlike better-scoring cities in IL, Rochester records health-based violations across a meaningful portion of its service areas - the overall safety grade is well below average.
How Rochester Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Rochester Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 72 violations in the past 5 years.
- Homes built before 1986: 50% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.45 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Rochester
Rochester, IL draws its residential water from 3 separate providers among the 3 federally tracked systems. Each operates independently, with its own infrastructure, rate structure, and compliance record.
- D
- D
- D
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Rochester, Illinois (population ~5,575), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 123,675 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 Rochester: D (53/100)
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
Rochester water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0000 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 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benzene | Organic | 6 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 6 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2005 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2010 | Other | 4 | 1 |
| Contaminant 2015 | Other | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62563 | D | 72 | 0 | Rochester |
All ZIP Codes in Rochester
- 62563 [D] - 72 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 Rochester
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 Rochester Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Rochester
With 50% 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
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Rochester is predominantly an older city - a median build year of 1983 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.
Over half of homes in Rochester 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 Rochester Homeowners
Low proportionality - that's the Rochester picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Rochester are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,600–$3,300 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 39% above the Illinois average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Rochester
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.
If 50% of the Rochester inventory comes from before the federal ban on lead-bearing solder - and if utility samples sit at or near 0.015 mg/L - the gap between citywide averages and one specific faucet becomes a practical concern rather than a theoretical one. That is why one-home reads exist as a separate measurement. A certified filter through retailer networks addresses confirmed exposure where it appears in a household.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Rochester
Historical NFIP data for Rochester contains 5 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $3,248. 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>$2,400</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 Rochester
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Benzene can reduce the most common contaminant found in Rochester's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 50% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Rochester, IL