COUNTY REPORT IL

Clay County, Illinois

6 ZIP codes · Avg score 70/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

Tracking 6 ZIP codes in Clay County shows a water safety record well above the national median — violations are isolated exceptions, not recurring patterns.

How Clay County Compares

Clay County70/100
Illinois avg61/100
National avg68/100

How Clay County Compares

B
County Grade
70/100
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
8
Water Systems

Clay County scores 9 points above the Illinois state average (61/100) and 2 points above the national average (68/100).

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03

B
County Grade
70
Avg Safety Score
6
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 62858 (82/100)
Lowest ZIP: 62879 (53/100)
$91K
Median Home Value
$1,233
Avg Remediation (136% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Clay County, Illinois

Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.

A B C D F

Key Risk Factors

Health risk index: 15.4 (asthma 10.8%, diabetes 13.9%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $683, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.378% avg pipe failure probability, 17% of ZIPs at high risk

62.2% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 10.8% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.9% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 41.5% (national: 32.4%)

Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Infrastructure Overview

1977
Median Build Year
62.2%
Pre-1978 Housing
38%
Pipe Failure Probability
17%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
Low
Lead Pipe Risk

Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.

Compound Risk Breakdown

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $683

Energy Code Gap $450/yr
Water / Lead $167/yr
Flood $67/yr

Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).

Housing Age Distribution

6,403 housing units in Clay County

Pre-1940 18%
1940–1959 21%
1960–1979 20%
1980–1999 24%
2000+ 17%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034 (Year Structure Built).

Water Safety Affordability

How much it costs to fix water issues relative to home values in Clay County

$91K
Median Home Value
$1,233
Est. Remediation Cost
1.4%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Clay County, representing a small fraction of property value.

Remediation includes water filtration, lead abatement, radon mitigation, and flood protection where applicable. Source: Census ACS, EPA SDWIS.

Health Outcomes vs National Average

CDC PLACES data for Clay County residents

Asthma 10.8% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.9% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 41.5% (US avg: 32.4%)

Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.

Water Systems with Most Violations

Top 5 systems in Clay County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Ej Water Cooperative 29,720 10
2 Clay City 957 8
3 Xenia 542 3
4 Flora 5,233 2
5 Clay County Water Inc. 2,015 2

8 total water systems serve Clay County.

All ZIP Codes in Clay County

6 ZIP codes tracked in Clay County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 62858 Louisville 82 B 2 $107K
2 62839 Flora 75 B 2 $91K
3 62426 Edgewood 72 B 0 $75K
4 62899 Xenia 71 B 3 $136K
5 62824 Clay City 69 C 3 $84K
6 62879 Sailor Springs 53 D 0

Recommended Buyer Guides for Clay County

Federal and certification sources drive the ordering: EPA monitoring data, NSF certifications, FEMA flood maps, and CDC lead guidance — guides surface only when county data warrants them.

Overview

Clay County in Illinois covers 6 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (70/100).

4 of 6 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. All violations are monitoring/reporting type.

← Back to Illinois water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Clay County?
Clay County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 6 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Clay County?
Clay County is served by 8 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 6 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Clay County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Clay County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $683 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Clay County?
The median home build year in Clay County is 1977. 62.2% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Clay County compare to Illinois?
Clay County has an average water safety score of 70/100, which is above the Illinois state average of 61/100.

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