Cokato, MN: High Radon Risk — 70/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated 2026-06-03
Across Cokato, EPA monitoring data shows low violation rates and healthy safety margins — a pattern that places the city well above MN's average for drinking water compliance across recent reporting cycles.
How Cokato Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
Cokato Water: The Quick Version
- Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 64% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.55.
Water Systems Serving Cokato
Federal drinking water records identify 2 systems in Cokato, MN. The leading 2 providers serve the largest share of residential connections, each operating as a separate entity with its own rate authority, infrastructure management, and EPA compliance obligations — so service conditions are not uniform city-wide.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Cokato, Minnesota, covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 5,592 people.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Cokato — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Cokato: B (70/100)
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
Cokato water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0010 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 ZIP codes 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55321 | B | Cokato | 2,792 |
All ZIP Codes in Cokato
- 55321 [B]
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 Cokato
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
How Old Is Cokato's Housing Stock?
With 64% 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
Viewed through the lens of construction era, Cokato is predominantly an older city — a median build year of 1975 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.
Over half of homes in Cokato 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.
Cokato: Remediation Cost in Perspective
When estimated remediation is placed alongside median property values in Cokato, the resulting ratio is low — a finding consistent with a household financial perspective where documented issues can be addressed without a meaningful impact on overall equity position, making this market one of the more favorable contexts for remediation planning.
Remediation costs in Cokato 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 11% above the Minnesota average.
Protecting Children from Lead in Cokato
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.
If 64% of the Cokato inventory comes from before the federal ban on lead-bearing solder — and if utility samples sit at or near 0.015 mg/L — the gap between citywide averages and one specific faucet becomes a practical concern rather than a theoretical one. That is why one-home reads exist as a separate measurement. A certified filter through retailer networks addresses confirmed exposure where it appears in a household.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Climate-Related Water Risk for Cokato
FEMA data shows 100% of Cokato's ZIP codes mapped into designated flood zones, paired with an NFIP record of 2 claims. That footprint places local flood exposure in the range where it warrants attention without rising to high-severity planning territory.
Cokato has a moderate flood history with 2 FEMA claims averaging $1,292 per payout. 100% of ZIP codes fall within FEMA flood zones. Flood events can contaminate drinking water and overwhelm treatment systems.
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>$2,400</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 Cokato, MN