Dearborn Heights, MI: 20 Violations - Home Safety 82/100
2 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Dearborn Heights: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Water systems serving Dearborn Heights hold a strong EPA compliance record - the city places among the better-performing areas in MI with few health-based violations on file.
How Dearborn Heights Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Dearborn Heights Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 20 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0105 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 94% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,500 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.63 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Dearborn Heights
With 3 utilities splitting service in Dearborn Heights, MI, water accountability is distributed across 5 systems on the federal record.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 2 ZIP codes in Dearborn Heights, Michigan (population ~62,099), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 914,013 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 2 ZIP codes.
2 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Dearborn Heights: B (82/100)
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
Dearborn Heights water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0105 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 11 | 2 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 10 | 2 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 2 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48127 | B | 20 | 1 | Dearborn Heights |
| 48125 | B | 15 | 1 | Dearborn Heights |
All ZIP Codes in Dearborn Heights
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 Dearborn Heights
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 Dearborn Heights Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Dearborn Heights
With 94% 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
The character of Dearborn Heights's housing stock is one of deep historical layering - a median build year of 1952 signals a city built largely before the plumbing era changes of 1986 and 1970. Lead-soldered copper joints and, in the oldest properties, lead service lines are commonly present in this inventory. That context shapes what individual water testing may reveal, particularly in neighborhoods where the oldest housing is concentrated.
Over half of homes in Dearborn Heights 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 Dearborn Heights Homeowners
At current valuations, Dearborn Heights sits in the low remediation-share tier - the equity impact of fixing documented issues is proportionally minor.
Remediation costs in Dearborn Heights are relatively low compared to home values. The $950–$2,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 6% above the Michigan average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Dearborn Heights
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.
Confirming what arrives at a specific faucet is something utility-side averages cannot do. With 94% of Dearborn Heights stock built before the lead-solder ban and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory mark, a tap-level kit fits the standard diligence picture.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Dearborn Heights
Historical NFIP data for Dearborn Heights contains 706 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $7,706. 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>$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 Dearborn Heights, MI