COUNTY REPORT MI

Delta County, Michigan

12 ZIP codes · Avg score 80/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

Homeowners across Delta County's 12 ZIP codes live with water safety scores that generally beat state and national averages.

How Delta County Compares

Delta County80/100
Michigan avg74/100
National avg68/100

How Delta County Compares

B
County Grade
80/100
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
7
Water Systems

Delta County scores 6 points above the Michigan state average (74/100) and 12 points above the national average (68/100).

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

B
County Grade
80
Avg Safety Score
12
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 49880 (98/100)
Lowest ZIP: 49894 (66/100)
$163K
Median Home Value
$1,400
Avg Remediation (86% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Delta County, Michigan

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 11.6%, diabetes 13.5%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $928, driven primarily by energy_code_gap

Infrastructure: 0.409% avg pipe failure probability, 30% of ZIPs at high risk

73.1% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2022)

→ Stable trend

EPA violation counts by year across Delta County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.

2021
10 (10 health)
2022
10 (10 health)

Peak year: 2021 with 10 violations. Past 5 years: 20 total (20 health-based).

Source: EPA SDWIS historical violations. Data may lag 6–12 months for the most recent year.

County Health Indicators vs National Average

Asthma 11.6% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.5% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 39.5% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1973
Median Build Year
73.1%
Pre-1978 Housing
41%
Pipe Failure Probability
30%
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: $928

Energy Code Gap $293/yr
Underground Tanks $227/yr
Water / Lead $208/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

19,825 housing units in Delta County

Pre-1940 24%
1940–1959 18%
1960–1979 27%
1980–1999 20%
2000+ 10%

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 Delta County

$163K
Median Home Value
$1,400
Est. Remediation Cost
0.9%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Delta 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 Delta County residents

Asthma 11.6% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 13.5% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 39.5% (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 Delta County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 NAHMA TOWNSHIP 95 12
2 Ford River Township 385 5
3 Cedar Hill Assisted Living 45 5
4 MAPLE RIDGE TOWNSHIP 250 2
5 GLADSTONE 4,632 1

7 total water systems serve Delta County.

All ZIP Codes in Delta County

12 ZIP codes tracked in Delta County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 49880 Rock 98 A 2 $130K
2 49829 Escanaba 95 A 0 $139K
3 49837 Gladstone 95 A 1 $145K
4 49878 Rapid River 95 A 1 $165K
5 49807 Bark River 93 A 5 $171K
6 49864 Nahma 80 B 12 (7 health) $175K
7 49818 Cornell 73 B 0 $161K
8 49817 Cooks 66 C 0 $181K
9 49819 Arnold 66 C 0
10 49845 Harris 66 C 0
11 49872 Perkins 66 C 0 $164K
12 49894 Wells 66 C 0 $142K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Delta County

Where county records show a lead exceedance or pre-1978 housing concentration, lead-specific filters and test kits move toward the top of the list.

Overview

Delta County in Michigan covers 12 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (80/100).

5 of 12 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 7 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Michigan water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Delta County?
Delta County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 12 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Delta County?
Delta County is served by 7 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 12 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Delta County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Delta County is energy_code_gap. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $928 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Delta County?
The median home build year in Delta County is 1973. 73.1% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Delta County compare to Michigan?
Delta County has an average water safety score of 80/100, which is above the Michigan state average of 74/100.

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