Water System Report MI

Pontiac

EPA ID: MI0005440 · 63,600 people served · 11 ZIP codes

Zero EPA violations over five years — Pontiac has kept tap water compliance clean for its full service population of 63,600.

Data: EPA SDWIS Last verified: 2026-04-02

B · 83
Avg Safety Score
63,600
People Served
11
ZIP Codes Served
0
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.0016 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
0
Contaminants Flagged
$238K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

Stable · Risk tier: High · 95% chance of violation in next 12 months

Violations went from 9 (2023) to 1 (2025). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

Coverage area for Pontiac Source: EPA SDWIS service area boundaries.

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$76,606
Median Household Income
195,784
Service Area Population
10%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
75%
Pre-1986 Housing

The Pontiac serves a community with a median household income of $76,606 and an estimated 195,784 residents across its service area. Approximately 75% of housing stock was built before 1986, which increases the likelihood of lead service lines and older plumbing.

🌊 Where Does Your Water Come From?

Surface Water

Pontiac'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
20th
Wastewater Discharge Proximity
50th
Superfund Site Proximity

About 1% of homes in Oakland 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

57 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Copper
Pipe Material
12 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 83% of expected lifespan used End of life

PFAS Detected in Service Area

PFAS ("forever chemicals") have been detected in water serving this system's area. 8 detections recorded.

State limits: PFOA: 0.008 ppt, PFOS: 0.016 ppt, PFNA: 0.006 ppt, PFHxS: 0.051 ppt, PFBS: 0.42 ppt, HFPO-DA: 0.37 ppt
Health concern: PFAS are linked to cancer, thyroid disease, immune suppression, and developmental effects. They do not break down naturally.
Recommended filter: Reverse osmosis (RO) or activated carbon filters certified for PFAS removal. Find the right filter →

Comparable Water Systems

Similar-sized systems in Michigan

Taylor
63,409 people
C 6 violations
Dearborn Heights
57,774 people
B 12 violations
City of Royal Oak
57,236 people
B 3 violations
City of Novi
56,780 people
B 0 violations
Southfield
71,739 people
B 5 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,145
Radon Mitigation $545
PFAS Treatment $364
Water Filtration $109
Total Estimated Cost $2,164

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.

Cost of Inaction

If water quality issues in this service area are not addressed, the estimated financial impact per household is:

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$165
10 years
$330
20 years
$660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,164 (one-time) vs. $330 in estimated inaction costs over 10 years.

Estimates based on published EPA, CDC, and peer-reviewed research. Individual costs vary by household size, property, and health factors. These are conservative lower-bound estimates intended for awareness, not financial advice.

System Overview

Pontiac (EPA ID: MI0005440) is a community water system in Michigan that serves approximately 63,600 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 11 ZIP codes across 5 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (83/100)

Based on water quality violations, lead levels, and radon risk across all ZIP codes served by this system.

Violation History

No violations recorded — This water system has no recorded EPA violations in the past 5 years.

Lead & Copper

EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data for ZIP codes served by this system:

ZIP Code Lead Level Exceeds Limit Sample Date
48340 0.0016 mg/L No N/A
48341 0.0016 mg/L No N/A
48342 0.0016 mg/L No N/A
48343 0.0016 mg/L No N/A

Radon Risk in Service Area

Dominant radon zone for ZIP codes served by this system: Zone 2 (Moderate 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 Filter

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

ZIP Codes Served

Coverage: 8 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 3 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.

Data Sources

This report uses public data from the EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS). View the full compliance record for Pontiac (MI0005440) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Pontiac water safe to drink?

Based on EPA records, Pontiac has no recorded violations in the past 5 years — a positive indicator of water quality management.

How many people does Pontiac serve?

Pontiac serves approximately 63,600 people across 11 ZIP codes in Michigan.

Where does Pontiac get its water?

The primary water source is surface water.

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.

Samples collected
116
Detections
1
Latest sample
7/25/2023
Highest analyte
PFBA: 5.1 ppt
Analyte Max detected Current MCL Status
PFBA 5.1 ppt

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 →

Lead Service Line Inventory

Service line breakdown reported under the federal Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) inventory requirement:

101
Confirmed Lead
1,036
Galvanized — Replacement Required
9,609
Unknown Material
8,759
Confirmed Non-Lead

Federal LCRI rule (effective October 2024) requires every public water system to inventory its service lines and complete lead-line replacement within 10 years.

Federal Regulatory Status · 2026Q1
LCRR inventory submission: Reported all required service line types
Latest tap sample on 2025-01-01 did not exceed the federal lead action level.
Population served: 63,776
Reported to Michigan

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.

Learn about lead in drinking water →

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 Pontiac safe to drink?
Pontiac earns a B safety grade with 0 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
Should I use a water filter?
Pontiac meets EPA standards, but a water filter can reduce trace contaminants below detectable levels for added peace of mind.
How many people does Pontiac serve?
Pontiac serves approximately 63,600 people with drinking water across 11 ZIP codes.
What is Pontiac's water source?
Pontiac draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in Pontiac's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.0016 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of Pontiac's service area?
The Pontiac service area has a median household income of $76,606. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does Pontiac get its water?
Pontiac'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.
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