Water systems serving Waukegan hold a strong EPA compliance record - the city places among the better-performing areas in IL with few health-based violations on file.

Data: EPA SDWIS

Overview

We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Waukegan, Illinois (population ~100,191), covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 171,805 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 3 ZIP codes.

2 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Waukegan: B (73/100)

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

Waukegan water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

• Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0047 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): 3 ZIP codes
• Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes

The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.

Top Contaminants

Areas with Most Violations

All ZIP Codes in Waukegan

• 60079
• 60085 [B] - 21 violations ⚠
• 60087 [B] - 18 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.

Housing Age Profile

Reading the housing age data for Waukegan - median build year 1970 - the overriding implication is that the plumbing materials inside a typical home here reflect pre-1986 construction standards. In practical terms, that means lead-soldered copper joints are common across much of the housing stock. Where those materials are present, water can leach lead as it moves through joints - a pathway that corrosion control treatment under federal rules is designed to reduce, though it cannot eliminate lead risk where the plumbing materials themselves contain lead.

1970

Median Year Built

73%

Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)

37%

Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)

Pre-1970 (37%) 1970–1986 (36%) Post-1986 (27%)

Over half of homes in Waukegan 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.

Waukegan: Remediation Cost in Perspective

Remediation costs in Waukegan are small relative to typical property values - the cost-to-value ratio here is favorable.

Median Home Value

$185,800

Est. Remediation

$1,200

Remediation as % of home value 0.7%

Remediation costs in Waukegan are relatively low compared to home values. The $533–$2,000 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 1% above the Illinois average.

Protecting Children from Lead in Waukegan

73%

Homes Built Before 1986

0.0047

mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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.

Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 73% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Waukegan.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Waukegan

82

Total FEMA Flood Claims

$31,221

Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data

100%

A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Waukegan contains 82 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $31,221. 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>$1,200</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.