Valparaiso, IN: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 80/100
3 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Valparaiso: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Throughout Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Valparaiso Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 22 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0056 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 54% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,900 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.7 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Valparaiso
At present, 3 utilities serve the bulk of Valparaiso, IN's residential water connections out of 4 systems active in the area, spread across independent providers with separate infrastructure and compliance obligations.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Valparaiso, Indiana (population ~83,854), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 249,101 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 3 ZIP codes.
1 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (50%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Valparaiso: B (80/100)
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
Valparaiso water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0056 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
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| PFOA | PFAS | 2 | 1 |
| PFNA | PFAS | 2 | 1 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
| Bromodichloromethane | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46385 | B | 22 | 0 | Indiana American Water - Northwest |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 46383 | B | Valparaiso Department of Water Works | 36,000 |
All ZIP Codes in Valparaiso
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 Valparaiso
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 Valparaiso Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Valparaiso
With 54% 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, Valparaiso'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 Valparaiso 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 Valparaiso Homeowners
What does remediation cost in financial context for Valparaiso homeowners? Proportionally very little - the equity share here is low, and addressing documented issues is a manageable planning question rather than a material financial burden.
Remediation costs in Valparaiso are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,217–$2,867 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 71% above the Indiana average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Valparaiso
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 54% 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 Valparaiso address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Valparaiso
Historical NFIP data for Valparaiso contains 101 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $13,691. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 33% 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>$1,900</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Valparaiso, IN