Duluth, MN: 3 Violations - Home Safety 83/100
14 ZIP codes · 4 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Duluth: B.
This ZIP has a few items worth a quick check.
Duluth, MN scores in the upper band of the ZipCheckup grade.
How Duluth Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Water Quality Map: Duluth, MN
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Score Distribution
Distribution of Home Safety grades across Duluth.
Duluth Water: The Quick Version
- Your city's water systems recorded 3 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.008 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 79% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.88.
Water Systems Serving Duluth
Service in Duluth, MN can differ by address: 4 water systems are tied to the area in federal records, and the 3 largest are listed with their violation records.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 14 ZIP codes in Duluth, Minnesota, covering 4 community water systems serving approximately 118,632 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 10 of 14 ZIP codes.
2 of 10 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (20%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Duluth: B (83/100)
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
Duluth water systems draw from: Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0080 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 10 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
14 of 14 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 3 | 2 |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 3 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55802 | B | Duluth | 86,859 |
| 55803 | — | Duluth | 86,859 |
| 55804 | B | Duluth | 86,859 |
| 55805 | B | Duluth | 86,859 |
| 55806 | B | Duluth | 86,859 |
| 55807 | B | Duluth | 86,859 |
| 55808 | — | Duluth | 86,859 |
| 55812 | B | Duluth | 86,859 |
All ZIP Codes in Duluth
- 55801
- 55802 [B]
- 55803
- 55804 [B]
- 55805 [B]
- 55806 [B]
- 55807 [B]
- 55808
- 55810 [B] - 3 violations
- 55811 [B] - 3 violations
- 55812 [B]
- 55814
- 55815
- 55816
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 Duluth
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Key Contaminants Detected in Duluth
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
How Old Is Duluth's Housing Stock?
With 79% of homes built before 1986, lead solder in plumbing is a potential concern. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Renovation history matters as much as age: in Duluth, with a median build year of 1938, some older homes have been replumbed and some have not.
Over half of homes in Duluth were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. Older plumbing may leach lead into drinking water, especially with corrosive water chemistry.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Protecting Children from Lead in Duluth
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
If you have young children or are pregnant, consider testing your home's water - especially if your home was built before 1986.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical Flood-Claim Evidence for Duluth
Historical NFIP data for Duluth contains 119 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $18,372. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 67% 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.
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 Duluth, MN