Evanston, IN: 2 Violations - Home Safety 83/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Evanston: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Throughout Evanston and across its water systems, EPA compliance data for IN shows above-average performance - violations are minimal, none of the tracked systems have recorded repeated MCL exceedances in recent cycles, and the safety picture has held steady across multiple reporting periods.
How Evanston Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Evanston Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 2 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.005 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 64% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.69 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Evanston
At present, 2 utilities serve the bulk of Evanston, IN's residential water connections out of 2 systems active in the area, spread across independent providers with separate infrastructure and compliance obligations.
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Evanston, Indiana (population ~951), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 4,341 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 Evanston: B (83/100)
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
Evanston water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0050 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47531 | B | 2 | 0 | Santa Claus Water Utility |
All ZIP Codes in Evanston
- 47531 [B] - 2 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 Evanston
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 Evanston
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Evanston's Housing Stock?
With 64% 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
Heavily weighted toward older construction, Evanston's housing stock carries a median build year of 1977. That profile puts a majority of homes in the era when lead-soldered copper plumbing was standard practice.
Over half of homes in Evanston 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.
Evanston: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Across Evanston, the equity share taken up by estimated remediation is small - a favorable ratio for most property owners.
Remediation costs in Evanston are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 45% above the Indiana average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Evanston
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 housing represents 64% of the local inventory or aggregate readings approach the federal action level, an in-home check becomes the standard way to translate citywide averages into the specific reality of an individual Evanston address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Evanston, IN