Worst Infrastructure: Michigan — 2026 Rankings

Out of 1,109 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	1,109
Highest risk	65%
Median risk	38%
Average risk	38%
State	Michigan

Top 100 Highest Risk ZIP Codes

Rank	ZIP Code	City	State	Pipe Failure Risk	Risk Level	Safety Score
1	48502	Flint	MI	65%	Very High	82/100
2	48503	Flint	MI	60%	High	77/100
3	49960	Rockland	MI	60%	High	62/100
4	48204	Detroit	MI	59%	High	77/100
5	48206	Detroit	MI	59%	High	77/100
6	48209	Detroit	MI	59%	High	72/100
7	48238	Detroit	MI	59%	High	77/100
8	48505	Flint	MI	59%	High	82/100
9	49864	Nahma	MI	59%	High	80/100
10	48210	Detroit	MI	58%	High	77/100
11	48212	Hamtramck	MI	58%	High	80/100
12	48221	Detroit	MI	58%	High	72/100
13	48227	Detroit	MI	58%	High	72/100
14	48504	Flint	MI	58%	High	77/100
15	48607	Saginaw	MI	58%	High	85/100
16	48211	Detroit	MI	57%	High	77/100
17	48213	Detroit	MI	57%	High	77/100
18	48218	River Rouge	MI	57%	High	74/100
19	48224	Detroit	MI	57%	High	72/100
20	48506	Flint	MI	57%	High	77/100
21	48816	Cohoctah	MI	57%	High	53/100
22	48859	Mount Pleasant	MI	57%	High	98/100
23	49871	Palmer	MI	57%	High	79/100
24	48205	Detroit	MI	56%	High	72/100
25	48214	Detroit	MI	56%	High	77/100
26	48234	Detroit	MI	56%	High	72/100
27	49276	Riga	MI	56%	High	55/100
28	49335	Moline	MI	56%	High	66/100
29	48202	Detroit	MI	55%	High	77/100
30	48217	Detroit	MI	55%	High	77/100
31	48223	Detroit	MI	55%	High	72/100
32	48507	Flint	MI	55%	High	72/100
33	49507	Grand Rapids	MI	55%	High	73/100
34	49847	Hermansville	MI	55%	High	28/100
35	48216	Detroit	MI	54%	High	76/100
36	48219	Detroit	MI	54%	High	72/100
37	48228	Detroit	MI	54%	High	72/100
38	48602	Saginaw	MI	54%	High	74/100
39	49014	Battle Creek	MI	54%	High	40/100
40	49017	Battle Creek	MI	54%	High	58/100
41	49037	Battle Creek	MI	54%	High	45/100
42	48225	Harper Woods	MI	53%	High	76/100
43	48230	Grosse Pointe	MI	53%	High	89/100
44	48235	Detroit	MI	53%	High	72/100
45	48708	Bay City	MI	53%	High	77/100
46	48862	North Star	MI	53%	High	66/100
47	48870	Palo	MI	53%	High	53/100
48	49238	Deerfield	MI	53%	High	58/100
49	49258	Mosherville	MI	53%	High	40/100
50	48043	Mount Clemens	MI	52%	High	85/100
51	48069	Pleasant Ridge	MI	52%	High	73/100
52	48208	Detroit	MI	52%	High	76/100
53	48215	Detroit	MI	52%	High	62/100
54	48532	Flint	MI	52%	High	77/100
55	48915	Lansing	MI	52%	High	82/100
56	49015	Battle Creek	MI	52%	High	40/100
57	49917	Copper City	MI	52%	High	81/100
58	49955	Painesdale	MI	52%	High	72/100
59	48125	Dearborn Heights	MI	51%	High	76/100
60	48128	Dearborn	MI	51%	High	93/100
61	48220	Ferndale	MI	51%	High	71/100
62	48809	Belding	MI	51%	High	71/100
63	48874	Pompeii	MI	51%	High	66/100
64	49001	Kalamazoo	MI	51%	High	54/100
65	49007	Kalamazoo	MI	51%	High	59/100
66	49022	Benton Harbor	MI	51%	High	84/100
67	49245	Homer	MI	51%	High	48/100
68	49440	Muskegon	MI	51%	High	98/100
69	49503	Grand Rapids	MI	51%	High	73/100
70	49506	Grand Rapids	MI	51%	High	73/100
71	49959	Ramsay	MI	51%	High	83/100
72	48141	Inkster	MI	50%	High	68/100
73	48180	Taylor	MI	50%	High	57/100
74	48190	Whittaker	MI	50%	High	65/100
75	48226	Detroit	MI	50%	High	76/100
76	48239	Redford	MI	50%	High	76/100
77	48410	Argyle	MI	50%	High	53/100
78	48456	Minden City	MI	50%	High	77/100
79	48601	Saginaw	MI	50%	High	74/100
80	48852	Mcbrides	MI	50%	High	53/100
81	48867	Owosso	MI	50%	High	60/100
82	49111	Eau Claire	MI	50%	High	68/100
83	49236	Clinton	MI	50%	High	54/100
84	49504	Grand Rapids	MI	50%	High	73/100
85	49628	Elberta	MI	50%	High	84/100
86	49852	Loretto	MI	50%	High	53/100
87	49915	Caspian	MI	50%	High	82/100
88	49934	Hubbell	MI	50%	High	53/100
89	48072	Berkley	MI	49%	High	79/100
90	48236	Grosse Pointe	MI	49%	High	89/100
91	48240	Redford	MI	49%	High	86/100
92	48463	Otisville	MI	49%	High	71/100
93	48658	Standish	MI	49%	High	81/100
94	48701	Akron	MI	49%	High	83/100
95	48853	Maple Rapids	MI	49%	High	82/100
96	48856	Middleton	MI	49%	High	66/100
97	48933	Lansing	MI	49%	High	82/100
98	49268	Palmyra	MI	49%	High	59/100
99	49289	Weston	MI	49%	High	40/100
100	49863	Nadeau	MI	49%	High	53/100

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: 2026-06-04.

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.