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.
Available records for Janesville give it a middle-tier grade in WI; water systems can differ, so check the one that serves your home.
How Janesville Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
Key Facts for Janesville Residents
- Your city's water systems recorded 4 violations since 2021.
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 0.0101 mg/L.
- Homes built before 1986: 71% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $300 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 13.43.
Janesville's Water Providers
Because each listed system has its own federal record, violations at one of the 3 shown below do not apply to the others among the 5 tied to Janesville, WI.
- C
- C
- C
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 of reported 90th-percentile lead results: 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
4 of 4 ZIP records with known zones are in EPA Radon Zone 1.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Rule | Reporting | 6 | 2 |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 3 | 2 |
| Stage 1 Disinfectants and Disinfection Byproducts Rule | Treatment Technique | 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). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
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. Federal law banned lead solder in drinking-water plumbing in 1986, but many older homes retain original plumbing.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
By Census estimates, roughly half or more of the homes in Janesville were built before 1986; the median build year is 1966.
Over half of homes in Janesville were built before 1986, when federal law began restricting lead solder in drinking-water plumbing. 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
Here the gap between local home values and the estimated repair bill is wide, so the percentage shown below for Janesville stays at or under the 1% mark.
Estimated remediation costs in Janesville can be compared with local home values. The $150–$600 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 5% below the Wisconsin average.
Janesville: Lead Risk & Vulnerable Populations
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
Two pieces of area data frame lead for Janesville families. First, the average of ZIP-level 90th-percentile lead results is 0.010 mg/L or higher. Second, census figures put homes built before 1986, which are more likely to contain lead pipes, fixtures or solder, at about 71% of the housing stock. Neither figure measures a particular home, so a certified lab test of the tap water is the step that shows the lead level there.
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 $300 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. Consider testing your home's tap water for lead, since household plumbing can affect its level.
- Install a certified water filter. For Consumer Confidence Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Janesville: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- 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