Benton Harbor, MI: 11 Health Violations - Home Safety 92/100
2 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Benton Harbor: A.
The model grade is high, but the records on this page include findings worth reviewing.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (11 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
Looking at federal compliance records for Benton Harbor, MI: the city earns a grade in the top two bands here, and each serving system's violation history can be reviewed individually for what lies behind it.
How Benton Harbor Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Benton Harbor Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 23 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0027 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 14.71.
Who Supplies Your Water in Benton Harbor
Service in Benton Harbor, MI can differ by address: 4 water systems are tied to the area in federal records, and the 3 largest are listed with their violation records.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Benton Harbor, Michigan (population ~29,796), covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 50,581 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 2 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 11 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Benton Harbor: A (92/100)
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
Benton Harbor water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0027 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
2 of 2 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 3.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total organic carbon | Disinfection Byproducts | 14 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 6 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49022 | A | 23 | 11 | Benton Harbor |
All ZIP Codes in Benton Harbor
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 Benton Harbor
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Benton Harbor Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Benton Harbor Homeowners
Relative to home values, Benton Harbor remediation estimates run low.
Estimated remediation costs in Benton Harbor can be compared with local home values. The $300–$1,500 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 31% below the Michigan average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Benton Harbor
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Available area-level lead records for Benton Harbor do not determine the lead level at an individual tap. Testing is the only way to confirm your water's lead content.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Benton Harbor
Historical NFIP data for Benton Harbor contains 30 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $50,482. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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 $600 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 Benton Harbor, MI