Saginaw, MI: 16 Violations - Home Safety Score unavailable
11 ZIP codes · 13 water systems · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
Saginaw Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 16 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0086 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 13 federally tracked systems. Each operates independently, with its own infrastructure, rate structure, and compliance record.
Overview
We track home safety data for 11 ZIP codes in Saginaw, Michigan, covering 13 community water systems serving approximately 125,086 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 7 of 11 ZIP codes.
7 of 7 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Water Sources
Saginaw water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0086 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 19 | 7 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 12 | 6 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 7 | 2 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 7 | 6 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 4 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48603 | — | 8 | 1 | Saginaw Charter Township |
| 48604 | — | 8 | 0 | Saginaw Charter Township |
| 48609 | — | 8 | 2 | Thomas Township |
| 48601 | — | 6 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
| 48602 | — | 4 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
| 48638 | — | 4 | 0 | Saginaw Charter Township |
| 48607 | — | 2 | 0 | City of Saginaw, |
All ZIP Codes in Saginaw
- 48601 - 6 violations
- 48602 - 4 violations
- 48603 - 8 violations ⚠
- 48604 - 8 violations
- 48605
- 48606
- 48607 - 2 violations
- 48608
- 48609 - 8 violations ⚠
- 48638 - 4 violations
- 48663
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 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.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Saginaw
Historical NFIP data for Saginaw contains 701 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $20,110. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 71% 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>$1,410</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 Saginaw, MI