Box Elder, SD: 9 Health Violations - Home Safety 78/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Box Elder: B.
This ZIP looks solid, with a few items worth a quick check.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (9 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
Unlike many cities its size in SD, Box Elder keeps health-based violation rates low - systems here score at or above the state average for tap water safety, with no systemic concerns flagged in the current data set.
How Box Elder Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Box Elder Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 12 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.008 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 31% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,200 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.98 - above typical levels.
Box Elder's Water Providers
Box Elder, SD draws its residential water from 3 separate providers among the 5 federally tracked systems. Each operates independently, with its own infrastructure, rate structure, and compliance record.
- B
- B
- B
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Box Elder, South Dakota (population ~11,475), covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 107,687 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. 9 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Box Elder: B (78/100)
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
Box Elder water systems draw from: Groundwater, Surface water.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0080 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Alpha | Radionuclides | 10 | 1 |
| Gross Beta | Radionuclides | 8 | 1 |
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 4 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 57719 | B | 12 | 9 | Box Elder |
All ZIP Codes in Box Elder
- 57719 [B] - 12 violations ⚠
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.
Box Elder 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 Box Elder's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Box Elder Infrastructure Age
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Over the decades, Box Elder accumulated housing from multiple construction periods. The median build year of 2009 places the midpoint of that stock near the 1986 threshold when lead solder in plumbing became federally prohibited - leaving a sizable share of homes on each side of that safety line.
Most homes in Box Elder were built after 1986, reducing the risk of lead contamination from plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Box Elder
Placing remediation in the context of Box Elder'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 Box Elder are relatively low compared to home values. The $1,100–$4,100 estimated range is a small fraction of median property value. Home values are 58% above the South Dakota average.
Box Elder: 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.
If 31% of the Box Elder inventory comes from before the federal ban on lead-bearing solder - and if utility samples sit at or near 0.015 mg/L - the gap between citywide averages and one specific faucet becomes a practical concern rather than a theoretical one. That is why one-home reads exist as a separate measurement. A certified filter through retailer networks addresses confirmed exposure where it appears in a household.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Box Elder: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Box Elder contains 27 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $7,719. 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>$2,200</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 Box Elder, SD