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: consider a certified water filter (5 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Across water systems in Fenton, safety results are uneven - a portion carry active or recent violations, while others meet federal standards without incident, placing the city in the middle tier for MI.
How Fenton Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Fenton Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 52 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.069 mg/L - exceeds the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 51% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,100 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.95 - above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Fenton
Federal drinking water records identify 5 systems in Fenton, MI. The leading 3 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations - so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
- 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 lead level (90th percentile): 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
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 14 | 1 |
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 1 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 1 |
| Lead | 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). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.
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. 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
What does a median build year of 1984 mean for water safety in Fenton? It means the majority of the city's residential plumbing was installed before 1986, when lead solder was federally banned, and a large share may predate 1970, when lead pipes were commonly used - making plumbing age a central variable in household-level lead risk across much of the city.
Over half of homes in Fenton 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.
Fenton: Remediation Cost in Perspective
In Fenton, property values comfortably outpace what documented remediation typically costs - the equity share is proportionally low.
Remediation costs in Fenton are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,100–$3,400 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 51% above the Michigan average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Fenton
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.
Older interior plumbing dominates the Fenton inventory at 51%, and citywide utility samples have crossed the federal action mark. Two independent indicators align here, raising lead to a household-level priority - particularly for families with kids.
<strong>1 ZIP code</strong> (100% of the city) exceeds the EPA lead 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 <strong>$2,100</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.
What You Can Do in Fenton
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Lead testing is especially recommended given the area's lead levels.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Fenton's water.
- 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