Kalamazoo, MI: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 48/100
10 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Kalamazoo: D.
Several federal signals point to home-safety risks in this ZIP.
Your top priority: see the breakdown below and consider a certified water filter. NSF certified filters →
For households across Kalamazoo, below-average water safety data and recurring compliance violations documented by MI EPA records make it worthwhile to verify the specific system serving your address - system-level detail is the most actionable reference point available.
How Kalamazoo Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
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 Home Safety grades across Kalamazoo.
Kalamazoo Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 5 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0049 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.
Overview
We track home safety data for 10 ZIP codes in Kalamazoo, Michigan (population ~162,837), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 244,591 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 7 of 10 ZIP codes.
7 of 7 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 Kalamazoo: D (48/100)
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
Kalamazoo water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0049 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 7 ZIP codes with known status 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 9 | 7 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49009 | D | 4 | 1 | Portage |
| 49001 | D | 1 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49004 | D | 1 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49006 | D | 1 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49007 | D | 1 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49008 | D | 1 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
| 49048 | D | 1 | 0 | Kalamazoo |
All ZIP Codes in Kalamazoo
- 49001 [D] - 1 violation
- 49003
- 49004 [D] - 1 violation
- 49005
- 49006 [D] - 1 violation
- 49007 [D] - 1 violation
- 49008 [D] - 1 violation
- 49009 [D] - 4 violations ⚠
- 49019
- 49048 [D] - 1 violation
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 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.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Kalamazoo
Historical NFIP data for Kalamazoo contains 240 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $28,981. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 57% 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>$2,010</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 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 Stage 2 DBP 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.
- Review your water system's CCR. Your utility publishes an annual Consumer Confidence Report with detailed test results. Request it or find it online.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Kalamazoo, MI