Kalamazoo, MI: 120 Violations — 60/100 (2026)
10 ZIP codes · 8 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Recent monitoring in Kalamazoo shows middle-tier safety for MI — some systems are clean; others have logged EPA violations.
How Kalamazoo Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Kalamazoo, MI
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of water safety grades across Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 120 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.003 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 73% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,010 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.41 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Kalamazoo
3 independent water providers serve Kalamazoo, MI — 8 systems appear in federal records.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 10 ZIP codes in Kalamazoo, Michigan (population ~162,837), covering 8 community water systems serving approximately 244,663 people region-wide.
10 of 10 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Kalamazoo: C (60/100)
The score combines three factors:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| Lead Levels | 90th percentile lead concentration vs EPA action level |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
Water Sources
Kalamazoo water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0030 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 10 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 77 | 10 |
| Barium | Inorganic | 22 | 10 |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 22 | 10 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 11 | 10 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49001 | D | 12 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49003 | C | 12 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49004 | C | 12 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49005 | C | 12 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49006 | C | 12 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49007 | C | 12 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49008 | C | 12 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49009 | C | 12 | 0 | Portage |
| 49019 | C | 12 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49048 | D | 12 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
All ZIP Codes in Kalamazoo
- 49001 [D] — 12 violations
- 49003 [C] — 12 violations
- 49004 [C] — 12 violations
- 49005 [C] — 12 violations
- 49006 [C] — 12 violations
- 49007 [C] — 12 violations
- 49008 [C] — 12 violations
- 49009 [C] — 12 violations
- 49019 [C] — 12 violations
- 49048 [D] — 12 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
Updated daily.
CDC Health Data for Kalamazoo
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 Kalamazoo
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Kalamazoo's Housing Stock?
With 73% 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
When more than half a city's housing predates the 1986 federal ban on lead solder, plumbing-era lead risk becomes a citywide concern rather than an exception. Kalamazoo's median build year of 1959 places it squarely in that category.
Over half of homes in Kalamazoo 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.
Kalamazoo: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Within the Kalamazoo property market, documented remediation claims a moderate slice of typical equity — real but budgetable.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Kalamazoo. The estimated $1,070–$3,060 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 10% below the Michigan average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Kalamazoo
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.
Routinely in Kalamazoo, where 73% of housing predates the solder ban and aggregate utility readings hover near the federal threshold, a faucet-level draw functions as a standard household step for families with small kids.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Kalamazoo
Measured across the NFIP's multi-decade tracking period, Kalamazoo shows a moderate flood record — 240 claims and 70% of ZIP codes carrying FEMA flood zone status. For water quality, that combination matters because flood events at this frequency can periodically stress infrastructure: treatment plants, private wells, and distribution systems all face elevated risk during significant flooding.
Kalamazoo has a moderate flood history with 240 FEMA claims averaging $16,761 per payout. 70% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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. Flood damage can add significantly to the estimated <strong>$2,010</strong> remediation cost per household.
Residents in flood-prone areas should consider flood insurance even outside FEMA zones — over 25% of flood claims come from low-to-moderate risk areas. After any flood event, test your water before drinking.
Source: FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claims data, FEMA flood zone designations.
What You Can Do in Kalamazoo
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages — your tap may differ. NSF-certified test kits cost $20-40 and give results in days.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Consumer Confidence Report Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Kalamazoo's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 73% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Kalamazoo, MI