COUNTY REPORT MI

Saginaw County, Michigan

26 ZIP codes · Avg score 83/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03

EPA monitoring reports for Saginaw County cover 26 ZIP codes and tell a largely reassuring story — compliance rates are high and health-based violations are far below the national norm.

How Saginaw County Compares

Saginaw County83/100
Michigan avg74/100
National avg68/100

How Saginaw County Compares

B
County Grade
83/100
Avg Safety Score
26
ZIP Codes
24
Water Systems

Saginaw County scores 9 points above the Michigan state average (74/100) and 15 points above the national average (68/100).

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

B
County Grade
83
Avg Safety Score
26
ZIP Codes
Best ZIP: 48787 (99/100)
Lowest ZIP: 48655 (65/100)
$155K
Median Home Value
$1,265
Avg Remediation (81% of home value)

ZIP Code Risk Map

Water Quality Map: Saginaw 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: 14.8 (asthma 12.2%, diabetes 14.1%)

Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $1,421, driven primarily by flood

Infrastructure: 0.404% avg pipe failure probability, 50% of ZIPs at high risk

77% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)

Violation History (2021–2024)

→ Stable trend

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

2021
3 (3 health)
2024
4 (4 health)

Peak year: 2024 with 4 violations. Past 5 years: 7 total (7 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 12.2% (national: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.1% (national: 10.5%)
Obesity 36.8% (national: 32.4%)

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

Infrastructure Overview

1976
Median Build Year
77%
Pre-1978 Housing
40%
Pipe Failure Probability
50%
ZIPs at High Infra Risk
High
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: $1,421

Flood $646/yr
Energy Code Gap $322/yr
Underground Tanks $234/yr

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

Housing Age Distribution

86,795 housing units in Saginaw County

Pre-1940 16%
1940–1959 23%
1960–1979 34%
1980–1999 17%
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 Saginaw County

$155K
Median Home Value
$1,265
Est. Remediation Cost
0.8%
of Home Value
Remediation as % of home value low burden

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

Asthma 12.2% (US avg: 8.9%)
Diabetes 14.1% (US avg: 11%)
Obesity 36.8% (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 Saginaw County ranked by EPA violation count.

# Water System Population Violations
1 Thomas Township 11,931 42
2 City of Saginaw, 44,058 33
3 Buena Vista Township 8,676 33
4 Saginaw Charter Township 40,840 33
5 Carrollton Township 6,103 33

24 total water systems serve Saginaw County.

All ZIP Codes in Saginaw County

26 ZIP codes tracked in Saginaw County.

# ZIP Code City Safety Score Grade Violations Home Value
1 48787 Frankenmuth 99 A 0
2 48460 New Lothrop 97 A 2 $200K
3 48415 Birch Run 95 A 0 $198K
4 48417 Burt 95 A 0 $164K
5 48734 Frankenmuth 95 A 0 $285K
6 48616 Chesaning 94 A 7 $153K
7 48626 Hemlock 91 A 3 (1 health) $209K
8 48722 Bridgeport 90 A 0 $136K
9 48623 Freeland 89 A 6 (1 health) $230K
10 48637 Merrill 88 A 1 $140K
11 48605 Saginaw 85 A 3
12 48606 Saginaw 85 A 3
13 48607 Saginaw 85 A 3 $45K
14 48663 Saginaw 85 A 3
15 48608 Saginaw 84 B 3
16 48603 Saginaw 79 B 3 $182K
17 48601 Saginaw 74 B 3 $55K
18 48602 Saginaw 74 B 3 $70K
19 48604 Saginaw 74 B 3 $93K
20 48609 Saginaw 74 B 3 $166K
21 48638 Saginaw 74 B 3 $161K
22 48614 Brant 73 B 0 $125K
23 48724 Carrollton 73 B 0 $68K
24 48649 Oakley 66 C 0 $152K
25 48758 Richville 66 C 0
26 48655 Saint Charles 65 C 0 $157K

Recommended Buyer Guides for Saginaw 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

Saginaw County in Michigan covers 26 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (83/100).

16 of 26 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 2 health-based violations have been documented.

← Back to Michigan water quality report

Data Sources

Updated daily.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water safe in Saginaw County?
Saginaw County receives a grade of B, indicating generally safe tap water across its 26 ZIP codes.
How many water systems serve Saginaw County?
Saginaw County is served by 24 public water systems that supply drinking water to residents across 26 ZIP codes.
What is the biggest environmental risk in Saginaw County?
The primary environmental risk factor in Saginaw County is flood. This contributes to an estimated additional annual cost of $1,421 per homeowner.
How old are homes in Saginaw County?
The median home build year in Saginaw County is 1976. 77% of homes were built before 1978, which means they may contain lead-based paint and older plumbing materials.
How does Saginaw County compare to Michigan?
Saginaw County has an average water safety score of 83/100, which is above the Michigan state average of 74/100.

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