Saginaw, MI: 33 Violations — 79/100 (2026)
11 ZIP codes · 10 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Water utilities in Saginaw have maintained a consistent compliance record over recent monitoring periods — the city's above-average grade in MI reflects low violation rates and no systemic health concerns flagged in current data.
How Saginaw Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Water Quality Map: Saginaw, 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 Saginaw.
Saginaw Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 33 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.009 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 82% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,410 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.76 — above typical levels.
Water Systems Serving Saginaw
Saginaw, MI draws its residential water from 3 separate providers among the 10 federally tracked systems. Each operates independently, with its own infrastructure, rate structure, and compliance record.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 11 ZIP codes in Saginaw, Michigan, covering 10 community water systems serving approximately 125,086 people.
11 of 11 ZIP codes (100%) have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Saginaw: B (79/100)
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
Saginaw water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0090 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes 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): 11 ZIP codes
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 11 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 11 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 12 | 11 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48601 | B | 3 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
| 48602 | B | 3 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
| 48603 | B | 3 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
| 48604 | B | 3 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
| 48605 | A | 3 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
| 48606 | A | 3 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
| 48607 | A | 3 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
| 48608 | B | 3 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
| 48609 | B | 3 | 0 | Thomas Township |
| 48638 | B | 3 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
All ZIP Codes in Saginaw
- 48601 [B] — 3 violations
- 48602 [B] — 3 violations
- 48603 [B] — 3 violations
- 48604 [B] — 3 violations
- 48605 [A] — 3 violations
- 48606 [A] — 3 violations
- 48607 [A] — 3 violations
- 48608 [B] — 3 violations
- 48609 [B] — 3 violations
- 48638 [B] — 3 violations
- 48663 [A] — 3 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 Saginaw
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 Saginaw
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Saginaw's Housing Stock?
With 82% 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 1955 mean for water safety in Saginaw? 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 Saginaw 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.
Saginaw: Remediation Cost in Perspective
Given current Saginaw property values, the remediation share falls in the moderate tier — an indicator that the household financial perspective here calls for advance planning rather than dismissal, with most homeowners positioned to address documented issues through deliberate budgeting rather than needing to treat remediation as a significant equity event or financial emergency.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Saginaw. The estimated $910–$2,120 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 54% below the Michigan average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Saginaw
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.
Practically, the structural drivers in Saginaw — 82% pre-rule stock and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory benchmark — make an in-home draw the practical way to translate aggregate averages into the specific conditions at one address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Saginaw
Decades of documented flood activity appear in Saginaw's NFIP record — 670 insurance claims filed and 64% of ZIP codes carrying FEMA flood designations. The scale of that record puts water infrastructure vulnerability from flooding into the concrete-risk category.
Saginaw has a significant flood history with 670 FEMA flood insurance claims on record, averaging $12,639 per claim. With 64% of ZIP codes in FEMA-designated flood zones, flood risk is a major concern for homeowners and water quality.
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>$1,410</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Saginaw, MI