Fort Atkinson, WI: 8 Health Violations - Home Safety 65/100
1 ZIP code · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Fort Atkinson: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Your top priority: consider a certified water filter (8 health violations on record). NSF certified filters →
The systems supplying Fort Atkinson vary in performance across WI benchmarks - most meet minimum federal standards, but documented violations in select areas are on record.
How Fort Atkinson Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Fort Atkinson Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 10 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.013 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 69% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,700 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 12.75 - above typical levels.
Who Supplies Your Water in Fort Atkinson
3 water utilities share the residential service territory in Fort Atkinson, WI - out of 5 total systems in federal records.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 18,604 people. 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. 8 health-based violations appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Fort Atkinson: 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
Fort Atkinson water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0130 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.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Beta | Radionuclides | 14 | 1 |
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting | 4 | 1 |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53538 | C | 10 | 8 | Fort Atkinson Waterworks |
All ZIP Codes in Fort Atkinson
- 53538 [C] - 10 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.
Health Outcomes in Fort Atkinson
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
Top Contaminants in Fort Atkinson Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Fort Atkinson
With 69% 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
Two dates define the high-risk tiers of residential plumbing from a lead standpoint: 1970, before which lead pipes were commonly installed for service connections, and 1986, before which lead solder was standard in copper plumbing. A median build year of 1979 places Fort Atkinson's housing distribution well within that older risk zone. The bar chart above breaks down how much of the stock falls into each era - and the pre-1986 share alone represents more than half the residential inventory, making plumbing-era risk a defining characteristic of the local water safety picture.
Over half of homes in Fort Atkinson 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 Fort Atkinson Homeowners
The Fort Atkinson equity share sits above the low tier but short of the range where remediation becomes a heavy financial burden - the cost-to-value ratio is moderate, and deliberate planning is the key practical lever for most homeowners.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Fort Atkinson. The estimated $1,750–$3,900 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 1% below the Wisconsin average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Fort Atkinson
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.
Reading the local data together points toward a structural gap that matters more here than in low-exposure communities. 69% of Fort Atkinson stock comes from the pre-rule era, and citywide monitoring either approaches or sits beyond the federal benchmark under Lead and Copper Rule sampling. A baseline kit fits the routine-diligence category, with certified filtration available via retailer networks where confirmed faucet results warrant additional measures.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Fort Atkinson
Historical NFIP data for Fort Atkinson contains 373 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $21,387. 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>$2,700</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 Fort Atkinson
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Lead testing is especially recommended given the area's lead levels.
- Install a certified water filter. Filters rated for Gross Beta can reduce the most common contaminant found in Fort Atkinson's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 69% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Fort Atkinson, WI