Van Buren County, Michigan
14 ZIP codes · Avg score 79/100 · Grade B · Updated 2026-06-03
EPA monitoring reports for Van Buren County cover 14 ZIP codes and tell a largely reassuring story — compliance rates are high and health-based violations are far below the national norm.
How Van Buren County Compares
How Van Buren County Compares
Van Buren County scores 5 points above the Michigan state average (74/100) and 11 points above the national average (68/100).
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-06-03
ZIP Code Risk Map
Water Quality Map: Van Buren County, Michigan
Each dot represents a ZIP code. Color indicates water quality grade. Tap a dot for details.
Key Risk Factors
Health risk index: 14.6 (asthma 11.7%, diabetes 13.3%)
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $741, driven primarily by energy_code_gap
Infrastructure: 0.39% avg pipe failure probability, 38% of ZIPs at high risk
64.9% of homes built before 1978 (lead paint era)
Violation History (2021–2025)
→ Stable trendEPA violation counts by year across Van Buren County water systems. Health-based shown in red, total in blue.
Peak year: 2024 with 5 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
Black markers indicate national averages. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Infrastructure Overview
Sources: Census ACS (housing age), EPA SDWIS (infrastructure risk model), state bridge inspection data.
Compound Risk Breakdown
Estimated additional annual cost per homeowner: $741
Bar widths proportional to share of total annual risk cost. Source: compound risk model (FEMA, EPA, USGS).
Housing Age Distribution
38,113 housing units in Van Buren County
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 Van Buren County
Remediation costs are relatively manageable for most homeowners in Van Buren 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 Van Buren County residents
Black markers = national averages. Red = above national avg. Green = below. Source: CDC PLACES, Census ACS.
Water Systems with Most Violations
Top 5 systems in Van Buren County ranked by EPA violation count.
| # | Water System | Population | Violations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor | 2,000 | 18 |
| 2 | Lawrence | 1,045 | 10 |
| 3 | Mattawan | 2,550 | 9 |
| 4 | Decatur | 1,838 | 8 |
| 5 | Lawton | 1,900 | 8 |
20 total water systems serve Van Buren County.
All ZIP Codes in Van Buren County
14 ZIP codes tracked in Van Buren County.
| # | ZIP Code | City | Safety Score | Grade | Violations | Home Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 49064 | Lawrence | 94 | A | 9 (1 health) | $163K |
| 2 | 49079 | Paw Paw | 92 | A | 7 | $215K |
| 3 | 49045 | Decatur | 88 | A | 0 | $171K |
| 4 | 49055 | Gobles | 88 | A | 1 | $162K |
| 5 | 49057 | Hartford | 87 | A | 1 | $111K |
| 6 | 49065 | Lawton | 87 | A | 1 | $235K |
| 7 | 49043 | Covert | 86 | A | 2 | $145K |
| 8 | 49013 | Bangor | 81 | B | 6 | $140K |
| 9 | 49090 | South Haven | 76 | B | 6 | $252K |
| 10 | 48808 | Bath | 66 | C | 0 | $244K |
| 11 | 49026 | Bloomingdale | 66 | C | 0 | $161K |
| 12 | 49027 | Breedsville | 66 | C | 0 | $216K |
| 13 | 49056 | Grand Junction | 66 | C | 0 | $151K |
| 14 | 49062 | Kendall | 66 | C | 0 | — |
Recommended Buyer Guides for Van Buren County
If FEMA records flag flood-top-risk status or EPA samples show PFAS exceedances, the matching logic lifts emergency-water and PFAS-rated filtration into the recommendations — federal data drives the order, not retailer arrangements.
- Best Lead Paint Test Kits — 64.9% of homes built before 1978
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Van Buren County, Michigan
Overview
Van Buren County in Michigan covers 14 ZIP codes with an average Home Safety Score of B (79/100).
8 of 14 ZIP codes have recorded EPA violations. 1 health-based violation have been documented.
← Back to Michigan water quality report
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Home values: U.S. Census Bureau ACS (median estimates by ZCTA)
Updated daily.