Cape Girardeau, MO - Home Safety Score unavailable
3 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Cape Girardeau Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 26 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0045 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 67% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,433 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.07 - above typical levels.
Cape Girardeau's Water Providers
3 independent water providers serve Cape Girardeau, MO - 6 systems appear in federal records.
Overview
We track home safety data for 3 ZIP codes in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 47,303 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 2 of 3 ZIP codes.
2 of 2 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. 3 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Water Sources
Cape Girardeau water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0045 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 2 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contaminant 0700 | Other | 20 | 2 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 12 | 2 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 11 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 10 | 2 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 63701 | — | 26 | 3 | Cape Girardeau Public Water System |
| 63703 | — | 11 | 1 | Cape Girardeau Public Water System |
All ZIP Codes in Cape Girardeau
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.
Cape Girardeau Community Health Snapshot
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
What's in Cape Girardeau's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Cape Girardeau Infrastructure Age
With 67% 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
Because the majority of Cape Girardeau's housing predates 1986, when lead solder was banned from new plumbing, the median build year of 1975 reflects a city where lead-era plumbing materials are common rather than exceptional.
Over half of homes in Cape Girardeau 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Cape Girardeau
Remediation costs in Cape Girardeau represent a moderate share of typical home values - worth budgeting for carefully, though within reach for most homeowners who plan ahead.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Cape Girardeau. The estimated $1,283–$3,967 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 19% above the Missouri average.
Cape Girardeau: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
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.
Even where utility-side monitoring meets Lead and Copper Rule requirements, the 67% pre-rule share in Cape Girardeau keeps interior-plumbing variation as a household-level question that aggregate data cannot resolve.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Cape Girardeau: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Cape Girardeau contains 905 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $11,726. 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>$2,433</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.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Cape Girardeau, MO