Saint Joseph, MI: 11 Health Violations - Home Safety 92/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Saint Joseph: A.
No federal data flags a major home-safety concern for this ZIP.
Water utilities in Saint Joseph 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 Saint Joseph Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Saint Joseph Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 23 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0027 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 74% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $1,800 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 14.71 - above typical levels.
Saint Joseph's Water Providers
Water service in Saint Joseph, MI is split across 3 utilities out of 3 tracked federally, each operating its own infrastructure and compliance record.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Saint Joseph, Michigan (population ~23,575), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 43,813 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 11 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Saint Joseph: A (92/100)
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
Saint Joseph water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0027 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 3 (Low Risk)
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 14 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 8 | 1 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 1 |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 4 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49085 | A | 23 | 11 | Southwest Michigan Regional Sanitary Sew |
All ZIP Codes in Saint Joseph
- 49085 [A] - 23 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
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Saint Joseph Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Saint Joseph's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Saint Joseph Infrastructure Age
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
Decades of residential development in Saint Joseph took place before the two main regulatory milestones that reduced plumbing-era lead risk: the phase-out of lead pipes before 1970, and the federal ban on lead solder in 1986. With a median build year of 1963, the housing stock here is anchored in that earlier period. The distinction between pre-1970 and 1970-to-1986 construction matters: the oldest homes may have lead pipes in the service line and lead solder in the copper joints, while the 1970-to-1986 tier still carries the solder risk even after lead pipes became less common. Together, these two risk layers affect a majority of the residential properties in the city - a fact the aggregate water quality data doesn't directly reveal.
Over half of homes in Saint Joseph 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Saint Joseph
Low proportionality - that's the Saint Joseph picture when remediation costs are placed against typical home equity.
Remediation costs in Saint Joseph are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,200–$2,500 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 41% above the Michigan average.
Saint Joseph: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Reading the local data together points toward a structural gap that matters more here than in low-exposure communities. 74% of Saint Joseph stock comes from the pre-rule era, and citywide monitoring either approaches or sits beyond the federal benchmark under Lead and Copper Rule sampling. A baseline kit fits the routine-diligence category, with certified filtration available via retailer networks where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Saint Joseph: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Saint Joseph contains 93 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $30,655. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% 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>$1,800</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 Saint Joseph, MI