Western Springs, IL: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 62/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Western Springs: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Water monitoring across Western Springs paints a mid-range picture within IL - solid compliance in some service zones, documented concerns in others. Most violations on record are concentrated in specific areas, and the overall grade has held in the middle tier without major shifts in recent monitoring cycles.
How Western Springs Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Western Springs Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 17 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.012 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 79% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,600 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.18.
Water Systems Serving Western Springs
With 3 utilities splitting service in Western Springs, IL, water accountability is distributed across 5 systems on the federal record.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Western Springs, Illinois (population ~13,353), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 50,506 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. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Western Springs: C (62/100)
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
Western Springs water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0120 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 22 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Gross Beta | Radionuclides | 2 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60558 | C | 17 | 1 | Western Springs |
All ZIP Codes in Western Springs
- 60558 [C] - 17 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.
CDC Health Data for Western Springs
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Western Springs
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Western Springs's Housing Stock?
With 79% 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
The median home in Western Springs was built in 1950 - a figure that places most of the city's residential stock in the era when lead solder was still standard in copper plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered joints; those built before 1970 face the additional possibility of lead pipes in the service line itself.
Over half of homes in Western Springs 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.
Western Springs: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Across Western Springs, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small - a favorable ratio for most property owners.
Remediation costs in Western Springs are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$2,600 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 276% above the Illinois average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Western Springs
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.
In recent monitoring under the Lead and Copper Rule, citywide samples for Western Springs have approached or crossed the regulatory action level on multiple occasions. Combined with 79% of stock dating from the pre-rule era, the picture supports baseline single-tap reads as a standard household-level step.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Western Springs
Historical NFIP data for Western Springs contains 20 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $3,038. 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>$1,600</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 Western Springs
- 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 Western Springs's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 79% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Western Springs, IL