City of Detroit
EPA ID: MI0001800 · 633,218 people served · 55 ZIP codes
Based on the latest federal compliance data, City of Detroit has 3 violations that the EPA has not yet closed — those outstanding findings are part of the enforcement record for a utility that delivers water to approximately 633,218 people throughout its service territory.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Compliance Trajectory
Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months
Violations went from 2 (2022) to 47 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.
Service Area Map
Coverage area for City of Detroit Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade B
Service Area Demographics
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?
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.
About 1% of homes in Wayne County, Michigan rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How City of Detroit compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Chlorite at 3 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of 1 mg/L. Anemia and nervous system effects in infants and children. Consider ferrous sulfate reduction filtration.
Contaminant 1011 at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
E. coli at 1 Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action) exceeds the EPA maximum of Zero tolerance (any positive sample triggers immediate action). Severe GI illness; potentially fatal kidney failure in children. Consider UV disinfection (99.99%) filtration.
Fecal Coliform at 1 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Chlorite was detected in this water system. ferrous sulfate reduction filtration can reduce exposure.
Find a certified water filter →Comparable Water Systems
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Estimated Remediation Costs
Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system
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 55 ZIP codes across 9 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: B (75/100)
Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.
Violation History
Recent Violations
| Date | Contaminant | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2024 | E. coli | Monitoring | Resolved |
| January 1, 2024 | Chlorite | Health-based | Unresolved |
| October 1, 2023 | Chlorite | Health-based | Unresolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Chlorite | Health-based | Unresolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chlorite | Disinfection Byproducts | 3 | Yes |
| Contaminant 1011 | Other Violation | 1 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 1 | No |
| Fecal Coliform | Microbiological | 1 | No |
Health Risk Details
Chlorite (EPA limit: 1 mg/L)
Anemia and nervous system effects in infants and children At-risk groups: infants, developing fetuses, people with G6PD deficiency.
Removal methods: ferrous sulfate reduction, activated carbon, reverse osmosis. Find the right filter →
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 48201 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48202 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48204 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48205 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48206 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48207 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48208 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48209 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48210 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48211 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48213 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48214 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48215 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48216 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48217 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48219 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48221 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48222 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48223 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 48224 | 0.0075 mg/L | No | N/A |
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 FilterFree tip: Let cold water run for 2 minutes before drinking — this helps flush lead from your pipes.
ZIP Codes Served
Coverage: 34 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 21 additional ZIPs inferred from SDWIS registry data. The EPA-confirmed set is the most reliable; SDWIS-inferred entries may be narrower than the real deployment area.
This system serves 55 ZIP codes:
48126 · 48127 · 48201 · 48202 · 48203 48204 · 48205 · 48206 · 48207 · 48208 48209 · 48210 · 48211 · 48212 · 48213 48214 · 48215 · 48216 · 48217 · 48218 48219 · 48221 · 48222 · 48223 · 48224 48225 · 48226 · 48227 · 48228 · 48231 48232 · 48233 · 48234 · 48235 · 48236 48238 · 48239 · 48240 · 48242 · 48243 48244 · 48255 · 48260 · 48264 · 48265 48266 · 48267 · 48268 · 48269 · 48272 48275 · 48277 · 48278 · 48279 · 48288
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?
City of Detroit has recorded 3 health-based violations in the past 5 years. While the system is required to treat water to meet federal standards, you may want to consider additional precautions such as a certified water filter.
How many people does City of Detroit serve?
City of Detroit serves approximately 633,218 people across 55 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.
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 →
Lead Service Line Inventory
Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:
Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.
Source: EPA SDWIS Federal Service Line Inventory (Phase 2) · Submitted 2026
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with the utility or state agency. Inventory figures render verbatim from the public LCRI submission cited above; ZipCheckup does not perform inspections or replacements.
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
What You Can Do
Test your water
Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →
Check your specific ZIP code
Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →
Contact your utility
City of Detroit (EPA ID: MI0001800) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.