Worst Infrastructure: Michigan — 2026 Rankings

Out of 1,141 ZIP codes with infrastructure data in Michigan, these areas face the highest estimated risk of water pipe failure based on infrastructure age, funding gaps, and violation history.

Statistic	Value
ZIP codes ranked	1,141
Highest risk	68%
Median risk	40%
Average risk	41%
State	Michigan

Top 100 Highest Risk ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Pipe Failure Risk	Risk Level	Safety Score
1	48870	Palo	MI	68%	Very High	53/100
2	48502	Flint	MI	65%	Very High	82/100
3	48128	Dearborn	MI	64%	Very High	93/100
4	48816	Cohoctah	MI	62%	Very High	53/100
5	48124	Dearborn	MI	61%	Very High	83/100
6	48476	Vernon	MI	61%	Very High	53/100
7	49871	Palmer	MI	61%	Very High	79/100
8	48503	Flint	MI	60%	High	77/100
9	49960	Rockland	MI	60%	High	62/100
10	48204	Detroit	MI	59%	High	77/100
11	48206	Detroit	MI	59%	High	77/100
12	48209	Detroit	MI	59%	High	72/100
13	48238	Detroit	MI	59%	High	77/100
14	48505	Flint	MI	59%	High	82/100
15	49507	Grand Rapids	MI	59%	High	73/100
16	49864	Nahma	MI	59%	High	80/100
17	48154	Livonia	MI	58%	High	70/100
18	48210	Detroit	MI	58%	High	77/100
19	48212	Hamtramck	MI	58%	High	80/100
20	48221	Detroit	MI	58%	High	72/100
21	48224	Detroit	MI	58%	High	72/100
22	48227	Detroit	MI	58%	High	72/100
23	48434	Forestville	MI	58%	High	83/100
24	48504	Flint	MI	58%	High	77/100
25	48607	Saginaw	MI	58%	High	85/100
26	48634	Linwood	MI	58%	High	85/100
27	49829	Escanaba	MI	58%	High	95/100
28	48205	Detroit	MI	57%	High	72/100
29	48211	Detroit	MI	57%	High	77/100
30	48213	Detroit	MI	57%	High	77/100
31	48218	River Rouge	MI	57%	High	74/100
32	48411	Atlas	MI	57%	High	53/100
33	48506	Flint	MI	57%	High	77/100
34	48859	Mount Pleasant	MI	57%	High	98/100
35	48862	North Star	MI	57%	High	66/100
36	48214	Detroit	MI	56%	High	77/100
37	48223	Detroit	MI	56%	High	72/100
38	48234	Detroit	MI	56%	High	72/100
39	48507	Flint	MI	56%	High	72/100
40	48767	Unionville	MI	56%	High	90/100
41	49001	Kalamazoo	MI	56%	High	54/100
42	49007	Kalamazoo	MI	56%	High	59/100
43	49017	Battle Creek	MI	56%	High	58/100
44	49037	Battle Creek	MI	56%	High	45/100
45	49276	Riga	MI	56%	High	55/100
46	49335	Moline	MI	56%	High	66/100
47	49504	Grand Rapids	MI	56%	High	73/100
48	49506	Grand Rapids	MI	56%	High	73/100
49	49894	Wells	MI	56%	High	66/100
50	48152	Livonia	MI	55%	High	70/100
51	48202	Detroit	MI	55%	High	77/100
52	48217	Detroit	MI	55%	High	77/100
53	48708	Bay City	MI	55%	High	77/100
54	48757	Reese	MI	55%	High	95/100
55	49014	Battle Creek	MI	55%	High	40/100
56	49241	Hanover	MI	55%	High	40/100
57	49322	Coral	MI	55%	High	53/100
58	49503	Grand Rapids	MI	55%	High	73/100
59	49847	Hermansville	MI	55%	High	28/100
60	48081	Saint Clair Shores	MI	54%	High	55/100
61	48180	Taylor	MI	54%	High	57/100
62	48216	Detroit	MI	54%	High	76/100
63	48219	Detroit	MI	54%	High	72/100
64	48220	Ferndale	MI	54%	High	71/100
65	48228	Detroit	MI	54%	High	72/100
66	48602	Saginaw	MI	54%	High	74/100
67	48852	Mcbrides	MI	54%	High	53/100
68	49015	Battle Creek	MI	54%	High	40/100
69	49247	Hudson	MI	54%	High	61/100
70	49254	Michigan Center	MI	54%	High	45/100
71	49776	Posen	MI	54%	High	83/100
72	49934	Hubbell	MI	54%	High	53/100
73	48072	Berkley	MI	53%	High	79/100
74	48120	Dearborn	MI	53%	High	93/100
75	48157	Luna Pier	MI	53%	High	45/100
76	48225	Harper Woods	MI	53%	High	76/100
77	48230	Grosse Pointe	MI	53%	High	89/100
78	48235	Detroit	MI	53%	High	72/100
79	48342	Pontiac	MI	53%	High	83/100
80	48501	Flint	MI	53%	High	82/100
81	48531	Flint	MI	53%	High	82/100
82	48550	Flint	MI	53%	High	82/100
83	48551	Flint	MI	53%	High	82/100
84	48552	Flint	MI	53%	High	82/100
85	48553	Flint	MI	53%	High	82/100
86	48554	Flint	MI	53%	High	82/100
87	48555	Flint	MI	53%	High	82/100
88	48556	Flint	MI	53%	High	82/100
89	48557	Flint	MI	53%	High	82/100
90	48617	Clare	MI	53%	High	95/100
91	48856	Middleton	MI	53%	High	66/100
92	49008	Kalamazoo	MI	53%	High	64/100
93	49028	Bronson	MI	53%	High	70/100
94	49063	Lacota	MI	53%	High	66/100
95	49238	Deerfield	MI	53%	High	58/100
96	49258	Mosherville	MI	53%	High	40/100
97	49628	Elberta	MI	53%	High	84/100
98	49971	White Pine	MI	53%	High	66/100
99	48069	Pleasant Ridge	MI	52%	High	73/100
100	48135	Garden City	MI	52%	High	68/100

Methodology

Infrastructure risk rankings combine four data sources, each weighted equally (25%): (1) EPA Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey (DWINS 2023) — state-level 20-year funding gap per capita for pipe replacement, treatment, and storage; (2) Census ACS housing vintage — percentage of homes built before 1980, when lead solder and galvanized pipes were common; (3) EPA SDWIS violation and enforcement data — system-level compliance history; (4) Lead and Copper Rule indicators — service line material inventories and 90th percentile lead testing results. The combined score is normalized to a 0-100% probability scale.

Data sources: EPA DWINS 2023, Census ACS, EPA SDWIS, Lead and Copper Rule data. Last updated: 2026-07-19.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pipe failure probability mean?

Pipe failure probability estimates the likelihood of water main breaks, lead contamination from corroded pipes, or service disruptions based on infrastructure age, state funding gaps, violation history, and lead indicators. It is not a prediction of imminent failure, but a risk assessment based on known factors.

How is infrastructure risk calculated?

The risk score combines four equally weighted factors: state-level infrastructure funding gap per capita (from EPA DWINS 2023), housing vintage (Census ACS pre-1980 housing percentage), water system violation and enforcement history (EPA SDWIS), and lead exposure indicators (service line probability and testing results).

What can homeowners do about aging infrastructure?

Test your tap water annually, especially for lead. Check if your home has a lead service line through your water utility. Consider a whole-house water filter (NSF/ANSI 53 certified). Review your water system Consumer Confidence Report for violation history.

Does high risk mean my water is unsafe right now?

Not necessarily. Infrastructure risk indicates long-term vulnerability, not current contamination. However, areas with aging pipes and high violation counts have a statistically higher chance of water quality issues. Regular testing is the best way to verify your water safety.