Sleepy Eye, MN: High Radon Risk — 70/100 (2026)
1 ZIP code · 1 water system · Updated 2026-06-03
In current MN EPA data, Sleepy Eye's tap water sits in the high-safety tier.
How Sleepy Eye Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
What You Should Know About Sleepy Eye Water
- Average lead level: 0.001 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 78% — older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.13 — above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Sleepy Eye
Most residential addresses in Sleepy Eye, MN are served by a single water utility — the dominant system among the 1 provider tracked in federal data.
Overview
We track water quality and home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, covering 1 community water system serving approximately 5,013 people.
No EPA violations recorded across any ZIP codes in Sleepy Eye — an excellent indicator of water quality.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Sleepy Eye: 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
Sleepy Eye 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 56085 | B | Sleepy Eye | 3,599 |
All ZIP Codes in Sleepy Eye
- 56085 [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.
Health Outcomes in Sleepy Eye
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 Sleepy Eye
With 78% 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, Sleepy Eye is predominantly an older city — a median build year of 1951 puts most of the residential inventory in the range where pre-1986 plumbing materials were the standard.
Over half of homes in Sleepy Eye 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 Sleepy Eye Homeowners
Given current Sleepy Eye property values, the remediation share falls in the moderate tier — an indicator that the household financial perspective here calls for advance planning rather than dismissal, with most homeowners positioned to address documented issues through deliberate budgeting rather than needing to treat remediation as a significant equity event or financial emergency.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Sleepy Eye. The estimated $1,600–$3,300 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 32% below the Minnesota average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Sleepy Eye
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.
Practically, the structural drivers in Sleepy Eye — 78% pre-rule stock and citywide monitoring at or beyond the regulatory benchmark — make an in-home draw the practical way to translate aggregate averages into the specific conditions at one address.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Flood & Climate Risk in Sleepy Eye
Flood activity in Sleepy Eye is neither negligible nor at the level of the highest-exposure areas in the NFIP dataset. The 2-claim record and 100% flood zone coverage suggest a community that has experienced recurrent events but has not faced the kind of sustained, severe exposure where water-supply contamination becomes a primary public health concern. It sits in a middle range where flood history merits inclusion in any complete local water quality picture.
Sleepy Eye has a moderate flood history with 2 FEMA claims averaging $10,500 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 Sleepy Eye, MN