CITY REPORT MO

Saint Joseph, MO: 7 Violations - Home Safety 65/100

8 ZIP codes · 6 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for Saint Joseph: C.

A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.

Available records for Saint Joseph give it a middle-tier grade in MO; water systems can differ, so check the one that serves your home.

How Saint Joseph Compares

Saint Joseph65/100
Missouri avg71/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

8
ZIP Codes
6
Water Systems
4
ZIPs Linked to Systems with Violations
C · 65
Avg Safety Score
Zone 1
County Radon Potential (High)
$134K
Median Home Value

Key Facts for Saint Joseph Residents

  • Your city's water systems recorded 7 violations since 2021.
  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0028 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 79% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 14.89.

Saint Joseph's Water Providers

Multiple utilities show up for Saint Joseph, MO: 3 are listed here out of 6 tracked federally.

Overview

We track home safety data for 8 ZIP codes in Saint Joseph, Missouri, covering 6 community water systems serving approximately 82,702 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 4 of 8 ZIP codes.

4 of 4 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.

Home Safety Score

Average Home Safety Score for Saint Joseph: C (65/100)

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

Saint Joseph water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0028 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
  • 0 of 4 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

8 of 8 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.

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 5 3
Revised Total Coliform Rule Microbiological 5 2
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 2 1
Consumer Confidence Rule Reporting 2 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
64507 C 4 0 Dekalb County Pwsd 1
64505 C 3 0 Andrew County Pwsd 1
64504 — 1 0 Buchanan County Pwsd 1
64506 C 1 0 Andrew County Pwsd 1

All ZIP Codes in Saint Joseph

Data Sources

Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.

Saint Joseph Community Health Snapshot

10.9%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
13%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
18.4%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

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

Asthma 10.9% ↑
Diabetes 13% ↑
Mental Health 18.4% ↑

Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national

What's in Saint Joseph's Water?

Lead and Copper Rule Revisions 5 violations
Treatment Technique
Revised Total Coliform Rule 5 violations
Microbiological
Indicates possible bacterial contamination
Lead and Copper Rule 2 violations
Treatment Technique
Developmental delays in children, kidney damage

Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.

Saint Joseph Infrastructure Age

1951
Median Build Year
79%
Built Before 1986
61%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

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

Median construction year in Saint Joseph: 1951, set against the 1986 federal lead limits for new plumbing.

1951
Median Year Built
79%
Pre-1986 (lead solder era; lead paint banned 1978)
61%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (61%) 1970–1986 (18%) Post-1986 (21%)

Over half of homes in Saint Joseph 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.

Saint Joseph: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations

79%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.0028
mg/L average of reported water-system 90th-percentile lead results (the 0.015 action level applies to each system's result, not to this average)

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.

Saint Joseph: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context

291
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$43,340
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
29%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for Saint Joseph contains 291 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $43,340. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 29% 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.

What You Can Do in Saint Joseph

  1. Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
  2. Install a certified water filter. For Lead and Copper Rule Revisions, listed in the water-quality records for Saint Joseph: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
  3. Check your home's plumbing. With 79% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.

Deep Dive Reports

Detailed analysis for Saint Joseph, MO

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for Saint Joseph, MO?
Saint Joseph has an average Home Safety Score of 65/100 (Grade C) under ZipCheckup model 4.0.0, an area-level model that draws on EPA water compliance records, PFAS screening, EPA radon zones, and annual EPA air quality data; see the methodology page for how inputs and coverage are handled. 7 violations appear in EPA records for water systems mapped to these ZIP codes. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving Saint Joseph?
EPA records list 7 EPA violations for Saint Joseph water systems. These water-system violations are shown for 8 mapped ZIP codes.
Does Saint Joseph water have lead?
The average of the reported 90th-percentile lead results across the ZIP codes of Saint Joseph is 0.0028 mg/L. The EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L applies to each water system's own 90th percentile, not to this average. EPA's health goal for lead is zero. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does Saint Joseph compare to Missouri average?
Saint Joseph has an average Home Safety Score of 65/100, which is below the Missouri state average of 71/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve Saint Joseph?
Our records map 6 water systems to 8 ZIP codes in Saint Joseph. The related population figure in our data is approximately 82,702 people; it is not a count of people served citywide.
Home → Cities → Missouri → Saint Joseph, MO

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). Saint Joseph, MO: 7 Violations - Home Safety 65/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/mo/saint-joseph/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-mo-saint-joseph,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{Saint Joseph, MO: 7 Violations - Home Safety 65/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/mo/saint-joseph/}
}

Page version: October 2026.

Get safety alerts for Saint Joseph, Missouri

Free updates when EPA data changes for this area. No spam.

Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy Policy.

Share This Page

X Facebook
Violations found - check filter options Free tool - no phone call required.