Janesville, WI: 1 Health Violation - Home Safety 66/100
4 ZIP codes · 5 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Janesville: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
Water systems across Janesville produce average compliance results for WI overall - pockets with documented violations exist, and the variation between areas makes checking the specific system serving a given address the most useful step for residents here.
How Janesville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Janesville Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 4 violations in the past 5 years.
- Average lead level: 0.0101 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 71% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $2,400 per household.
- CDC health risk index: 13.43 - above typical levels.
Janesville's Water Providers
Structurally, Janesville, WI's water supply is divided. Federal data identifies 5 water systems in the area, with 3 providers serving the bulk of residential connections. These utilities operate independently, meaning rate-setting authority and EPA compliance accountability are distributed rather than centralized.
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Overview
We track home safety data for 4 ZIP codes in Janesville, Wisconsin, covering 5 community water systems serving approximately 73,928 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 3 of 4 ZIP codes.
2 of 3 ZIP codes with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (67%) have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation appear in the available health breakdown.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Janesville: 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
Janesville water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average lead level (90th percentile): 0.0101 mg/L (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 3 ZIP codes with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
Dominant radon zone: Zone 1 (High Risk)
- Zone 1 (High): 4 ZIP codes
- Zone 2 (Moderate): 0 ZIP codes
- Zone 3 (Low): 0 ZIP codes
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surface Water Treatment Rule | Treatment Technique | 6 | 2 |
| Stage 2 DBP Rule | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Chlorine residual | Disinfectant | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 53548 | C | 4 | 1 | Janesville Water Utility |
| 53545 | C | 3 | 0 | Janesville Water Utility |
Areas with No Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | System | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53546 | C | Janesville Water Utility | 64,415 |
All ZIP Codes in Janesville
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.
Janesville 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 Janesville's Water?
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Janesville Infrastructure Age
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
Heavily weighted toward older construction, Janesville's housing stock carries a median build year of 1966. That profile puts a majority of homes in the era when lead-soldered copper plumbing was standard practice.
Over half of homes in Janesville 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.
How Remediation Costs Compare in Janesville
The cost-to-value ratio in Janesville is in the moderate range - neither dismissible nor alarming, but above the threshold where remediation can be treated as incidental. Most homeowners here are weighing a real equity commitment, and the moderate classification reflects that accurately.
Remediation costs are moderate relative to home values in Janesville. The estimated $1,550–$3,450 range is manageable for most homeowners but still worth budgeting for. Home values are 5% below the Wisconsin average.
Janesville: 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.
Routinely in Janesville, where 71% of housing predates the solder ban and aggregate utility readings hover near the federal threshold, a faucet-level draw functions as a standard household step for families with small kids.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Janesville: NFIP Claim Records and Water-Quality Context
Historical NFIP data for Janesville contains 123 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $19,077. 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>$2,400</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.
What You Can Do in Janesville
- 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 Surface Water Treatment Rule can reduce the most common contaminant found in Janesville's water.
- Check your home's plumbing. With 71% of homes built before 1986, lead solder is a real possibility.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Janesville, WI