Kalamazoo
EPA ID: MI0003520 · 192,992 people served · 15 ZIP codes
Records for Kalamazoo show 12 violations over the monitored period, with every finding addressed and officially closed — the provider, which serves approximately 192,992 people, carries no outstanding enforcement actions in the current EPA dataset and meets all applicable drinking water requirements.
Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02
Service Area Map
Coverage area for Kalamazoo Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.
Service area boundary — Grade C
Service Area Demographics
The Kalamazoo serves a community with a median household income of $64,750 and an estimated 213,430 residents across its service area. Approximately 68% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.
💧 Where Does Your Water Come From?
Kalamazoo's water is pumped from underground aquifers. Groundwater is naturally filtered through rock and soil, but it can be vulnerable to PFAS contamination, nitrates from agriculture, and industrial chemicals that seep into the water table.
About 1% of homes in Kalamazoo County, Michigan rely on private wells rather than public water systems. Private well owners are responsible for their own water testing and treatment.
Superfund Proximity Note: This service area ranks in the 80th percentile nationally for proximity to Superfund (NPL) sites. Groundwater sources near contaminated sites may face elevated risk from industrial chemicals.
Infrastructure Risk
Detected Contaminants
How Kalamazoo compares to EPA limits
What This Means For You
Consumer Confidence Report Rule at 7 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
Total Coliform at 2 presence exceeds the EPA maximum of presence.
Stage 1 DBP Rule at 1 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.
PFAS Detected in Service Area
PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 57 detections recorded. 11 exceed federal EPA limits (4 ppt for PFOA/PFOS).
Comparable Water Systems
Similar-sized systems in Michigan
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
Kalamazoo (EPA ID: MI0003520) is a community water system in Michigan that serves approximately 192,992 people from groundwater sources.
This system provides water to 15 ZIP codes across 5 communities.
Average Home Safety Score: C (59/100)
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 6, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| September 1, 2024 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| August 5, 2024 | Total Coliform | Monitoring | Resolved |
| July 1, 2023 | Barium | Monitoring | Resolved |
| June 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
| February 1, 2023 | Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Monitoring | Resolved |
Contaminants Detected
The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|
| Consumer Confidence Report Rule | Reporting Failure | 7 | No |
| Barium | Inorganic | 2 | No |
| Total Coliform | Microbiological | 2 | No |
| Stage 1 DBP Rule | Treatment Failure | 1 | No |
Lead & Copper
EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:
| ZIP Code | Lead Level | Exceeds Limit | Sample Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 49001 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 49003 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 49004 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 49005 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 49006 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 49007 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 49008 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 49019 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
| 49048 | 0.003 mg/L | No | N/A |
Radon Risk in Service Area
Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 1 (High Risk)
The EPA recommends testing homes in Zone 1 and Zone 2 areas for radon.
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: 9 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 6 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.
- 49001 — Kalamazoo
- 49002 — Portage
- 49003 — Kalamazoo
- 49004 — Kalamazoo
- 49005 — Kalamazoo
- 49006 — Kalamazoo
- 49007 — Kalamazoo
- 49008 — Kalamazoo
- 49009 — Kalamazoo
- 49019 — Kalamazoo
- 49024 — Portage
- 49041 — Comstock
- 49048 — Kalamazoo
- 49074 — Nazareth
- 49077 — Oshtemo
Data Sources
This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Kalamazoo (MI0003520) on EPA.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalamazoo water safe to drink?
Kalamazoo has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.
How many people does Kalamazoo serve?
Kalamazoo serves approximately 192,992 people across 15 ZIP codes in Michigan.
Where does Kalamazoo get its water?
The primary water source is groundwater.
Contact Your Water Utility
Public-record contact information for the water utility serving this system. Use these channels to request water quality reports, ask about service, or report issues directly.
Contact information from City of Kalamazoo Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility, does not act as its agent, and does not provide customer support for it. Contact details shown are public-record information from CCR filings. For service issues, contact the utility directly using the information above.
Water Source & Treatment
Where this water originates and how it's treated before reaching your tap.
Source: City of Kalamazoo Consumer Confidence Report.
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. Treatment and source data are sourced from the utility's published CCR filings.
Treatment regime
How this utility classifies its treatment process and what each reported treatment chemical does.
Treatment chemicals and what each one does
Chemical names are reported verbatim by the utility. Purpose categories are ZipCheckup annotations based on standard drinking-water treatment practice.
Treatment classification and chemical list sourced from City of Kalamazoo Consumer Confidence Report.
Treatment intensity is a ZipCheckup-derived classification based on the chemicals and processes the utility reports. Chemicals and contamination sources are taken verbatim from the utility's CCR filing. Routine federal monitoring and contaminant testing shown elsewhere on this page determine whether the water meets safety standards, not the treatment classification.
Federal UCMR5 PFAS Monitoring: Detected
This water system was tested under the federal EPA Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR5). PFAS compounds were detected below the current state-enforceable MCL.
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 →
A proactive annual capital improvement program has been in place for over twenty years to address lead service replacements. In 2024 Kalamazoo replaced 810 non-copper services with funding from the Foundation for Excellence, Michigan’s Drinking Water Revolving Fund Program, and the City of Kalamazoo’s Capital Improvements Projects Program. Lead service replacements are continuing in 2025 and beyond.
Lead Service Line Replacement Tracker
This water utility's lead service line (LSL) replacement program is tracked from public Consumer Confidence Report filings. Email signup notifies subscribers when the utility files an updated replacement plan or progress milestone.
City of Kalamazoo
ZipCheckup is not affiliated with this water utility. LSL replacement-program data is sourced from public CCR filings published by the utility. Subscription notifications are based on automated parsing of subsequent CCR releases.
Learn more about Lead and Copper Rule replacement requirements →
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
Kalamazoo (EPA ID: MI0003520) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.