CITY REPORT SD

De Smet, SD: High Radon Risk - Home Safety Score unavailable

1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated

Data: EPA SDWIS

1
ZIP Codes
3
Water Systems
0
ZIPs with Violations
Zone 1
Radon Risk (High)
$174K
Median Home Value
$2,400
Est. Remediation (1.4% of home value)

What You Should Know About De Smet Water

  • Average lead level: 0.002 mg/L.
  • Homes built before 1986: 71% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
  • Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
  • CDC health risk index: 13.61 - above typical levels.

Who Supplies Your Water in De Smet

De Smet, SD is covered by 3 major water utilities out of 3 federally tracked systems, each managing its own pipes, treatment processes, and EPA filings. What a household gets from the tap depends on which provider's system serves that address.

Overview

We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in De Smet, South Dakota (population ~1,769), covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 21,003 people region-wide. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.

The available EPA record reports 0 violations for 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count.

Water Sources

De Smet water systems draw from: Groundwater, 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 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
57231 Kingbrook Ii Rural Water System 2,715

All ZIP Codes in De Smet

Data Sources

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

Health Outcomes in De Smet

9.9%
Asthma (US: 9.8%)
12.1%
Diabetes (US: 10.4%)
14.3%
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 9.9% ↑
Diabetes 12.1% ↑
Mental Health 14.3% ↓

Vertical line = national average. Above national · Below national

Housing & Infrastructure in De Smet

1963
Median Build Year
71%
Built Before 1986
45%
Built Before 1970
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Likely Pipe Material

With 71% 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

When a city's housing median build year is 1963, as in De Smet, the implication for water quality research is straightforward: municipal-level data captures what leaves the treatment plant, but household plumbing from before 1986 determines what actually arrives at the tap. In cities where older housing predominates, that gap between system-level and household-level data is widest.

1963
Median Year Built
71%
Pre-1986 (Lead Paint Risk)
45%
Pre-1970 (Lead Pipes Risk)
Pre-1970 (45%) 1970–1986 (26%) Post-1986 (29%)

Over half of homes in De Smet 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 De Smet Homeowners

How does remediation fit within the broader financial picture for De Smet homeowners? The equity share is moderate - large enough that treating it as a real planning consideration makes sense, and manageable enough that most homeowners have a clear path to addressing documented water and safety issues when they approach the commitment with deliberate advance budgeting rather than as an unplanned expense.

Median Home Value
$173,600
Est. Remediation
$2,400
Remediation as % of home value 1.4%

Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in De Smet. The estimated $1,600–$3,300 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 1% below the South Dakota average.

Lead Exposure Risk for Children in De Smet

71%
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.

When older housing represents 71% of the local inventory or aggregate readings approach the federal action level, an in-home check becomes the standard way to translate citywide averages into the specific reality of an individual De Smet address.

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

Historical NFIP Claim Context in De Smet

7
Total FEMA Flood Claims
$14,280
Avg Reported Sum With Payment Data
0%
A/V Share of Claim-Record ZIPs

Historical NFIP data for De Smet contains 7 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $14,280. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 0% 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>$2,400</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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does De Smet water have lead?
The average 90th-percentile lead level in De Smet 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 many water systems serve De Smet?
De Smet is served by 3 public water systems across 1 ZIP code, serving approximately 1,769 people.
How much does it cost to fix water issues in De Smet?
Estimated remediation costs in De Smet average $2,400 per household, ranging from $1,600 to $3,300. Costs include filtration, pipe replacement, radon mitigation, and flood protection.
HomeCitiesSouth Dakota → De Smet, SD

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (2026). De Smet, SD: High Radon Risk - Home Safety Score unavailable. https://zipcheckup.com/cities/sd/de-smet/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-cities-sd-de-smet,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{De Smet, SD: High Radon Risk - Home Safety Score unavailable}},
  year   = {2026},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/cities/sd/de-smet/}
}

Page version: August 2026.

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