Benton Harbor, MI: 11 Health Violations - Home Safety 92/100
2 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Benton Harbor: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Compared to statewide averages in MI, Benton Harbor scores well - health violations are below the norm and systems generally operate within federal standards.
How Benton Harbor Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Benton Harbor Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 23 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0027 mg/L.
- Estimated remediation: $1,500 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.71 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Benton Harbor
Water service in Benton Harbor, MI is split across 3 utilities out of 4 tracked federally, each operating its own infrastructure and compliance record.
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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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 2 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 14 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 4 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | 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). 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 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
For most Benton Harbor homeowners, estimated remediation represents a moderate equity share - manageable with planning.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Benton Harbor. The estimated $900–$2,750 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. 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 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.
Lead risk in Benton Harbor appears low overall, but individual homes may differ. 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 <strong>$1,500</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 Benton Harbor, MI