Water System Report MI

City of Detroit

EPA ID: MI0001800 · 633,218 people served · 34 ZIP codes

ZipCheckup's reading of EPA SDWIS for City of Detroit (MI0001800): no EPA violations recorded in the last five years. Federal monitoring spanning five full years has produced zero violations at City of Detroit - a clean record across every reporting cycle for a utility serving approximately 633,218 residents.

Data: EPA SDWIS

A · 91
Avg Safety Score
633,218
People Served
34
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0075 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 3
Radon Risk · Low
0
Contaminants Flagged
$93K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Service Area Map

Coverage area for City of Detroit Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary - Grade A

Service Area Demographics

$40,812
Median Household Income
864,593
Service Area Population
60%
Disadvantaged Population
60th
Poverty Percentile
70th
Energy Burden Percentile
90%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Detroit serves a community with a median household income of $40,812 and an estimated 864,593 residents across its service area. Approximately 90% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

Environmental Justice Note: 60% of the population in this service area is classified as disadvantaged under EPA's EJScreen criteria. Communities with higher disadvantaged populations often face disproportionate environmental and health burdens, including aging water infrastructure and limited resources for remediation.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

City of Detroit's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap.

Moderate Risk
Source Contamination Risk
40th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

Infrastructure Risk

88 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
1 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 99% of expected lifespan used End of life

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Michigan

Grand Rapids
306,901 people
B 0 violations
Kalamazoo
192,992 people
D 1 violation
B 0 violations
City of Warren
134,056 people
A 0 violations
City of Sterling Heights
127,000 people
A 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,147
Water Filtration $476
Total Estimated Cost $1,624

Based on national averages for common remediation projects. Actual costs vary by property. Only issues flagged by EPA, FEMA, or state data for each ZIP code are included.

System Overview

City of Detroit (EPA ID: MI0001800) is a community water system in Michigan that serves approximately 633,218 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 34 ZIP codes across 9 communities.

ZIP-Area Home Safety Context: A (91/100)

This is the average Home Safety Score for 26 of 34 service-area ZIP codes with all required score domains observed. It is not a grade for the water utility.

Model 4.0.0 uses SDWIS identity plus accepted ECHO SDWA lifecycle-based water compliance, the UCMR 5 PFAS MCL screen, EPA radon zone, and annual EPA AirData AQI across three equally weighted domains. Missing required evidence suppresses the score.

Violation History

No accepted violation records in the 2021-2026 window - The accepted EPA ECHO 2026Q2 snapshot contains zero violation records for this system whose record year falls from 2021 through 2026, inclusive. This is not a tap-water safety guarantee.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule evidence attributed directly to this water system:

Lead Level Exceeds Action Level Sample Date
0.0075 mg/L No N/A

No copper action-level exceedance record appears for this PWSID in the accepted LCR snapshot. This does not establish a clean copper measurement.

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 3 (Low Risk)

Need help with your water quality?

Typical cost: Water test: typically $20–$50 (DIY kit) · Professional inspection: $150–$400

Find the Right Water Filter

Free tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: Service area ZIP codes sourced from EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 (March 2026 release). These ZIPs reflect the actual deployment footprint recorded by MI or modeled from parcel and building-footprint data.

This system serves 34 ZIP codes:

48126 · 48127 · 48201 · 48202 · 48203 48204 · 48205 · 48206 · 48207 · 48208 48209 · 48210 · 48211 · 48212 · 48213 48214 · 48215 · 48216 · 48217 · 48218 48219 · 48221 · 48223 · 48224 · 48225 48226 · 48227 · 48228 · 48234 · 48235 48236 · 48238 · 48239 · 48240

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for City of Detroit (MI0001800) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Detroit water safe to drink?

The accepted 2026Q2 ECHO snapshot contains zero violation records for City of Detroit in the inclusive 2021-2026 record-year window. This is a compliance-record finding, not a guarantee about water at a specific tap.

How many people does City of Detroit serve?

City of Detroit serves approximately 633,218 people across 34 ZIP codes in Michigan.

Where does City of Detroit get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Tested Clean

This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). No PFAS compounds were detected.

Samples collected
464

Current MCL reflects the lowest state-enforceable limit (NYS 10 ppt for PFOA/PFOS, effective August 2020). The federal final MCL of 4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS (EPA April 2024 rule) is not enforceable until April 2029. Detections above 4 ppt but below 10 ppt are below current MCL but above the future federal limit.

Source: U.S. EPA UCMR5 (Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, 5th cycle) — per-system federal sampling, 2023–2025. EPA UCMR5 monitoring program →

Understand PFAS health context and filtration →

How Water Systems Appear in Rankings

Water systems are evaluated by violation history, contaminant detections, and service population. Larger systems with more service connections appear in more rankings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Detroit safe to drink?
City of Detroit earns a A safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
City of Detroit meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does City of Detroit serve?
City of Detroit serves approximately 633,218 people with drinking water across 34 ZIP codes.
What is City of Detroit's water source?
City of Detroit draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Detroit's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0075 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Detroit's service area?
The City of Detroit service area has a median household income of $40,812. EPA EJScreen data classifies 60% of the population as disadvantaged, which may indicate greater vulnerability to environmental health risks.
Where does City of Detroit get its water?
City of Detroit's water is drawn from rivers, lakes, or reservoirs. Surface water sources are more exposed to agricultural runoff, stormwater, and upstream discharges, but they typically receive more intensive treatment before reaching your tap. Based on available data, the source contamination risk is moderate.

How to cite this page

APA ZipCheckup. (n.d.). City of Detroit, MI: Serves 633K People. https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mi0001800/
BibTeX
@misc{zipcheckup-water-system-mi0001800,
  author = {{ZipCheckup}},
  title  = {{City of Detroit, MI: Serves 633K People}},
  year   = {n.d.},
  url    = {https://zipcheckup.com/water-system/mi0001800/}
}
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