Ann Arbor, MI: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 65/100
8 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Ann Arbor: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
If you're checking Ann Arbor, MI tap water safety, the short answer is: average - violations are present in parts of the city and specifics depend on which water system serves your address.
How Ann Arbor Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Ann Arbor, MI
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of Home Safety grades across Ann Arbor.
Ann Arbor Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 12 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0046 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 62% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,375 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.41.
Water Systems Serving Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 8 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Ann Arbor, Michigan, covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 168,550 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 5 of 8 ZIP codes.
3 of 5 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (60%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Ann Arbor: C (65/100)
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
Ann Arbor water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0046 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 5 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 8 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 3 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 7 | 2 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 7 | 3 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 3 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 6 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48103 | C | 11 | 0 | Ann Arbor |
| 48105 | C | 11 | 1 | Ann Arbor |
| 48108 | C | 5 | 0 | Pittsfield Township |
Areas with No Violations
All ZIP Codes in Ann Arbor
- 48103 [C] - 11 violations
- 48104 [C]
- 48105 [C] - 11 violations ⚠
- 48106
- 48107
- 48108 [C] - 5 violations
- 48109 [C]
- 48113
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 Ann Arbor
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 Ann Arbor
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Ann Arbor's Housing Stock?
With 62% 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
When a city's housing median build year is 1979, as in Ann Arbor, the implication for water quality research is straightforward: municipal-level data captures what leaves the treatment plant, but household plumbing from before 1986 determines what actually arrives at the tap. In cities where older housing predominates, that gap between system-level and household-level data is widest.
Over half of homes in Ann Arbor 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.
Ann Arbor: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Ann Arbor, the equity impact of remediation is proportionally small - not the kind of financial commitment that rises to the level of a genuine planning constraint, but a minor share of what most properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Ann Arbor are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,550–$3,288 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 136% above the Michigan average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Ann Arbor
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.
After the federal action removing lead-bearing solder from new plumbing took effect, building practice shifted - but 62% of the Ann Arbor inventory predates that line. With aggregate samples near or beyond 0.015 mg/L, an in-home check moves out of the optional column into the standard list.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Ann Arbor
Historical NFIP data for Ann Arbor contains 68 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $19,751. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 50% 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>$2,375</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 Ann Arbor
- 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 Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) can reduce the most common contaminant found in Ann Arbor's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 62% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Ann Arbor, MI