Belle Plaine, MN: High Radon Risk - Home Safety 67/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Belle Plaine: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Unlike higher-rated cities in MN, Belle Plaine carries a fair number of documented violations - the pattern of compliance gaps keeps the city in the middle tier of EPA safety rankings.
How Belle Plaine Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Belle Plaine Water
- Average lead level: 0.007 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 39% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 10.9.
Who Supplies Your Water in Belle Plaine
Belle Plaine, MN draws its residential water from 3 separate providers among the 3 federally tracked systems. Each operates independently, with its own infrastructure, rate structure, and compliance record.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Belle Plaine, Minnesota (population ~9,672), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 22,403 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Belle Plaine: C (67/100)
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
Belle Plaine water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0070 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 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56011 | C | Belle Plaine | 7,456 |
All ZIP Codes in Belle Plaine
- 56011 [C]
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 Belle Plaine
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
Housing & Infrastructure in Belle Plaine
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Tap water lead levels are shaped by two factors: what the utility delivers, and what the household plumbing adds to it. Older homes contribute disproportionately to that second variable because lead solder was standard in copper plumbing before 1986, and lead pipes were common before 1970. In Belle Plaine, where the median build year is 1994, a substantial share of the housing stock falls into these older categories. The bar chart above breaks out the pre-1970, 1970-to-1986, and post-1986 segments - the key ages for understanding where plumbing-era risk concentrates across the city.
Most homes in Belle Plaine were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Belle Plaine Homeowners
Setting Belle Plaine remediation figures against its property market, the resulting ratio sits comfortably in the low tier - a classification that reflects the kind of household financial position where most homeowners can identify documented issues, schedule the work, and absorb the cost without it registering as a significant budget disruption.
Remediation costs in Belle Plaine are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,600–$3,300 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 24% above the Minnesota average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Belle Plaine
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.
Pulling a tap sample fills the gap that utility data cannot close, particularly here where 39% of housing dates from the pre-rule era and citywide monitoring sits at or above the regulatory mark in Belle Plaine.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Belle Plaine
Historical NFIP data for Belle Plaine contains 6 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $6,579. 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>$2,400</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 Belle Plaine
- 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. An NSF-certified pitcher or under-sink filter removes most common contaminants.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 39% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Belle Plaine, MN