Muskegon, MI: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 96/100
6 ZIP codes · 13 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Muskegon: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Tap water in Muskegon, MI scores well - low violation counts, above-average safety grade.
How Muskegon Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Muskegon, MI
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
How ZIP codes in Muskegon score across all safety grades.
What You Should Know About Muskegon Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 22 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0066 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 74% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.81 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Muskegon
Multiple utilities divide Muskegon, MI's water service - 3 leading providers among 13 on the federal register.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Muskegon, Michigan, covering 13 community water systems serving approximately 129,821 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 6 of 6 ZIP codes.
3 of 6 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (50%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Muskegon: A (96/100)
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
Muskegon water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0066 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 6 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 6 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| E. coli | Microbiological | 20 | 3 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 16 | 3 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 3 |
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 3 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 3 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49444 | A | 20 | 0 | Muskegon Heights |
| 49442 | A | 18 | 1 | Muskegon |
| 49441 | A | 16 | 0 | Norton Shores |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49440 | A | Muskegon | 37,213 |
| 49443 | — | Muskegon | 37,213 |
| 49445 | A | North Muskegon | 3,786 |
All ZIP Codes in Muskegon
- 49440 [A]
- 49441 [A] - 16 violations
- 49442 [A] - 18 violations ⚠
- 49443
- 49444 [A] - 20 violations
- 49445 [A]
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 Muskegon
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
Top Contaminants in Muskegon Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Muskegon
With 74% 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
The character of Muskegon's housing stock is one of deep historical layering - a median build year of 1955 signals a city built largely before the plumbing era changes of 1986 and 1970. Lead-soldered copper joints and, in the oldest properties, lead service lines are commonly present in this inventory. That context shapes what individual water testing may reveal, particularly in neighborhoods where the oldest housing is concentrated.
Over half of homes in Muskegon 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Muskegon Homeowners
In Muskegon, the equity impact of remediation is proportionally small - not the kind of financial commitment that rises to the level of a genuine planning constraint, but a minor share of what most properties here are worth.
Remediation costs in Muskegon are relatively low compared to home values. The $800–$1,800 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 20% below the Michigan average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Muskegon
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.
74% - that captures the slice of Muskegon housing dating from before the federal ban on solder containing lead. It pairs with aggregate utility readings that either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L, the benchmark set under the EPA Lead and Copper Rule. Together, the two figures shift one-home reads into a standard household-level confirmation, particularly for families with kids. A certified lead-removal filter is available through retailer-verified channels if a kit returns results that warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Muskegon
Historical NFIP data for Muskegon contains 104 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $10,938. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 60% 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>$1,200</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Muskegon, MI