Dowagiac, MI: 13 Violations - Home Safety 63/100
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Dowagiac: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Dowagiac, MI: a C, mid-scale.
How Dowagiac Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Dowagiac Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 13 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.012 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 76% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 14.73.
Who Supplies Your Water in Dowagiac
The 2 largest of 2 systems connected with Dowagiac, MI are listed below.
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Dowagiac, Michigan, covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 14,506 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Dowagiac: C (63/100)
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
Dowagiac water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0120 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
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 1.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 16 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 4 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49047 | C | 13 | 0 | Dowagiac |
All ZIP Codes in Dowagiac
- 49047 [C] - 13 violations
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 Dowagiac
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 Dowagiac Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Dowagiac
With 76% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Some homes in Dowagiac predate the 1986 federal restrictions on lead in new pipe and solder, so a tap test is a reasonable step for older homes; median build year: 1967.
Over half of homes in Dowagiac were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Dowagiac
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.
What does the lead data say about a home in Dowagiac? Only part of the story. The average of 90th-percentile lead results across the city's ZIP codes is at least 0.010 mg/L, and roughly 76% of dwellings date from the pre-1986 period. Lead usually enters drinking water from a building's own service line and plumbing, so results at any one faucet can be higher or lower than the area average.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Dowagiac
Historical NFIP data for Dowagiac contains 7 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $16,022. 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.
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 Dowagiac
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
- Install a certified water filter. For Revised Total Coliform Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Dowagiac: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 76% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Dowagiac, MI