Fenton, MI: PFAS Found in Water - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Fenton: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: match a filter's certification to the violations (5 health-based violations). NSF certified filters →
The C shown for Fenton, MI is an average of Home Safety Scores across the city's ZIP codes; that composite blends several data sources, so it can move for reasons unrelated to water, and it is not a measurement of what comes out of any tap in the city.
How Fenton Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Fenton Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 52 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.069 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average.
- Homes built before 1986: 51% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $4,160 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 14.95.
Water Systems Serving Fenton
Multiple utilities show up for Fenton, MI: 3 are listed here out of 5 tracked federally.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Fenton, Michigan, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 38,731 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. 5 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Fenton: C (67/100)
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
Fenton water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0690 mg/L (exceeds EPA action level) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 1 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 2.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 14 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 10 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 6 | 1 |
| Nitrate | Inorganic | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48430 | C | 52 | 5 | City of Fenton, |
All ZIP Codes in Fenton
- 48430 [C] - 52 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.
CDC Health Data for Fenton
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
Key Contaminants Detected in Fenton
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Fenton's Housing Stock?
With 51% 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
Median construction year in Fenton: 1984, set against the 1986 federal lead limits for new plumbing.
Over half of homes in Fenton 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.
Fenton: Remediation Cost in Perspective
The cost-to-value ratio for Fenton is moderate by this page's scale.
Estimated remediation costs in Fenton can be compared with local home values. The estimated $2,640–$6,380 range is a planning estimate; get a property-specific quote and check it against your budget. Home values are 51% above the Michigan average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Fenton
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.
Over 15 micrograms per liter: the mean of Fenton's ZIP-level lead results. Older-than-1986 homes make up 51% of the stock.
1 ZIP code (100% of the city's ZIP records) is served by a water system whose 90th-percentile lead result exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Fenton
Historical NFIP data for Fenton contains 12 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $26,005. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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 $4,160 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 Fenton
- 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 Lead and Copper Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Fenton: 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 51% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Fenton, MI