Rochester, MN: 4 Violations - Home Safety 66/100
6 ZIP codes · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Rochester: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
While Rochester avoids MN's lowest safety tiers, a portion of its water systems have logged documented violations.
How Rochester Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Rochester Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 4 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.007 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 51% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,283 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 11.45.
Who Supplies Your Water in Rochester
Water service in Rochester, MN is split across 3 utilities out of 3 tracked federally, each operating its own infrastructure and compliance record.
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 6 ZIP codes in Rochester, Minnesota, covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 134,010 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 6 of 6 ZIP codes.
2 of 6 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (33%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Rochester: C (66/100)
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
Rochester 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 6 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 6 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 4 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | 2 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | 2 |
Areas with Most Violations
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 55902 | — | Rochester | 123,624 |
| 55903 | — | Rochester | 123,624 |
| 55904 | — | Rochester | 123,624 |
| 55905 | — | Rochester | 123,624 |
All ZIP Codes in Rochester
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 Rochester
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
Top Contaminants in Rochester Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Rochester
With 51% 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
While newer cities carry lower aggregate plumbing risk from lead-era construction, Rochester sits firmly in the older category. The median build year of 1985 indicates that more than half the housing stock was built before 1986, when lead solder was still legally used in residential copper plumbing - and a substantial portion likely predates 1970, when lead pipes were still commonly installed for service lines. These two thresholds together define the elevated plumbing risk environment that older housing cities carry, independent of what the municipal water supply delivers to the meter.
Over half of homes in Rochester 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.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Rochester Homeowners
Placing remediation in the context of Rochester's property market, the equity share is low - most homeowners here are weighing a financial commitment that fits comfortably within routine property planning, far from the threshold where remediation becomes a material equity decision rather than a standard upkeep consideration.
Remediation costs in Rochester are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,517–$3,133 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 46% above the Minnesota average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Rochester
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.
Households with kids in the home - for whom CDC guidance places particular weight on minimizing exposure - face a specific local picture in Rochester. 51% of homes here come from the pre-rule era, and aggregate utility samples either approach or cross 0.015 mg/L. A baseline draw-test kit and certified lead-removal filtration are available via retailer networks for households confirming conditions at a specific tap.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Rochester
Historical NFIP data for Rochester contains 686 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $8,903. 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>$2,283</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 Rochester
- 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. Filters rated for Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Rochester's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 51% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Rochester, MN