CITY REPORT NJ

South Plainfield, NJ: 3 Violations - Home Safety 66/100

1 ZIP code · 2 water systems · Updated

ZipCheckup grade for South Plainfield: C.

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

South Plainfield lands near the NJ median for water safety - compliance results are mixed, and the city's middle-grade standing reflects genuine variability across service areas rather than one problem driving the whole picture.

How South Plainfield Compares

South Plainfield66/100
New Jersey avg61/100
National avg73/100

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
2
Water Systems
1
ZIPs with Violations
C · 66
Avg Safety Score
Zone 2
Radon Risk (Moderate)
$444K
Median Home Value
$2,800
Est. Remediation (0.6% of home value)

What You Should Know About South Plainfield Water

  • Your city's water systems recorded 3 violations in the past 5 years.
  • Average lead level: 0.002 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 79% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $2,800 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 10.8.

Who Supplies Your Water in South Plainfield

Federal records list 2 water systems tied to South Plainfield, NJ. Of those, 2 are the primary providers, meaning service conditions, rate structures, and compliance histories can differ depending on where a property sits.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in South Plainfield, New Jersey (population ~24,215), covering 2 community water systems serving approximately 848,806 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

1 of 1 ZIP code 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 South Plainfield: 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

South Plainfield water systems draw from: Surface water.

Lead & Copper

  • Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0020 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
  • 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level

Radon Risk

Dominant radon zone: Zone 2 (Moderate Risk)

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
Lead and Copper Rule Treatment Technique 2 1

Areas with Most Violations

ZIP Code Safety Score Violations Health-Based System
07080 C 3 0 Nj American Water - Raritan

All ZIP Codes in South Plainfield

  • 07080 [C] - 3 violations

Data Sources

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

Health Outcomes in South Plainfield

8.4%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
11.6%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
13.8%
Poor Mental Health (US: 14.8%)

Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). Water contamination can correlate with respiratory and chronic health conditions.

Compared to National Average

Asthma 8.4% ↓
Diabetes 11.6% ↑
Mental Health 13.8% ↓

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

Top Contaminants in South Plainfield Water

Stage 1 DBP Rule 4 violations
Treatment Technique
Disinfection byproduct exposure risk
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.

Housing & Infrastructure in South Plainfield

1967
Median Build Year
79%
Built Before 1986
46%
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. 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

The median home in South Plainfield was built in 1967 - a figure that places most of the city's residential stock in the era when lead solder was still standard in copper plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead-soldered joints; those built before 1970 face the additional possibility of lead pipes in the service line itself.

1967
Median Year Built
79%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
46%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (46%) 1970–1986 (33%) Post-1986 (21%)

Over half of homes in South Plainfield 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 South Plainfield Homeowners

In South Plainfield, the equity impact of remediation is proportionally small - not the kind of financial commitment that rises to the level of a genuine planning constraint, but a minor share of what most properties here are worth.

Median Home Value
$444,100
Est. Remediation
$2,800
Remediation as % of home value 0.6%

Remediation costs in South Plainfield are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,600–$4,100 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 8% below the New Jersey average.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in South Plainfield

79%
Homes Built Before 1986
0.002
mg/L Avg Lead (Limit: 0.015)

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.

Older interior plumbing shapes the local picture: 79% of South Plainfield homes predate the federal solder ban, and aggregate sampling either approaches or crosses the action benchmark. That mix makes a single-home draw a standard pre-purchase or pre-occupancy step.

Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.

Historical NFIP Claim Context in South Plainfield

404
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$28,412
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
100%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for South Plainfield contains 404 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $28,412. 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>$2,800</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 South Plainfield

  1. 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.
  2. Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Stage 1 DBP Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in South Plainfield's water.
  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 South Plainfield, NJ

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Home Safety Score mean for South Plainfield, NJ?
South Plainfield has an average Home Safety Score of 66/100 (Grade C) under model 4.0.0. The score combines EPA SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AQI, and is published only when all required domains are observed. 3 EPA violations have been recorded. Check individual ZIP code reports for component details.
How many water violations does South Plainfield have?
South Plainfield water systems have a total of 3 EPA violations. Violations are tracked across 1 ZIP code.
Does South Plainfield water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in South Plainfield is 0.002 mg/L. This is below the EPA action level of 0.015 mg/L. Lead levels can vary by home - testing is recommended especially in older properties.
How does South Plainfield compare to New Jersey average?
South Plainfield has an average Home Safety Score of 66/100, which is above the New Jersey state average of 61/100 for the same model series.
How many water systems serve South Plainfield?
South Plainfield is served by 2 public water systems across 1 ZIP code, serving approximately 24,215 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in South Plainfield?
Estimated remediation costs in South Plainfield average $2,800 per household, ranging from $1,600 to $4,100. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
Home → Cities → New Jersey → South Plainfield, NJ

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). South Plainfield, NJ: 3 Violations - Home Safety 66/100. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/nj/south-plainfield/
BibTeX 
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-nj-south-plainfield,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{South Plainfield, NJ: 3 Violations - Home Safety 66/100}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/nj/south-plainfield/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

Get safety alerts for South Plainfield, New Jersey

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.