Monitoring Violations MI

City of Royal Oak

EPA ID: MI0005830 · 57,236 people served · 12 ZIP codes

In the five-year tracking period, City of Royal Oak filed 3 violations — each has been cleared, and the utility now meets all federal standards for its 57,236 residents.

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

B · 80
Avg Safety Score
57,236
People Served
12
ZIP Codes Served
3
Violations (5yr)
Surface Water
Water Source
0.004 mg/L
Max Lead Level
Zone 2
Radon Risk · Moderate
2
Contaminants Flagged
$303K
Median Home Value in Service Area

Compliance Trajectory

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

Violations went from 2 (2023) to 2 (2024). Violation counts have remained relatively steady.

Service Area Map

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

Service area boundary — Grade B

Service Area Demographics

$106,004
Median Household Income
217,367
Service Area Population
10%
Disadvantaged Population
30th
Poverty Percentile
30th
Energy Burden Percentile
87%
Pre-1986 Housing

The City of Royal Oak serves a community with a median household income of $106,004 and an estimated 217,367 residents across its service area. Approximately 87% 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

City of Royal Oak'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

68 yr
Avg Pipe Age
Galvanized Steel or Copper
Pipe Material
4 yr
Est. Remaining Life
Moderate Wear
Decay Status
Installed 94% of expected lifespan used End of life

Detected Contaminants

How City of Royal Oak compares to EPA limits

What This Means For You

Surface Water Treatment Rule at 2 mg/L exceeds the EPA maximum of mg/L.

Consumer Confidence Report 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. 1 detection 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

City of Novi
56,780 people
B 0 violations
Dearborn Heights
57,774 people
B 12 violations
C 5 violations
Taylor
63,409 people
C 6 violations
Pontiac
63,600 people
B 0 violations

Estimated Remediation Costs

Average estimated costs across ZIP codes served by this system

Flood Insurance Lead Pipe Replacement Radon Mitigation PFAS Treatment Water Filtration
Flood Insurance $1,373
Lead Pipe Replacement $491
Radon Mitigation $364
PFAS Treatment $45
Water Filtration $27
Total Estimated Cost $2,300

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:

Estimated Healthcare Costs $500

Annual per household (CDC est.)

PFAS Exposure — Lifetime Cost $1,000

Per person (emerging research est.)

Estimated Cumulative Cost Per Household

5 years
$2,665
10 years
$5,330
20 years
$10,660

Compare: Estimated remediation cost is $2,300 (one-time) vs. $5,330 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

City of Royal Oak, (EPA ID: MI0005830) is a community water system in Michigan that serves approximately 57,236 people from surface water sources.

This system provides water to 12 ZIP codes across 10 communities.

Average Home Safety Score: B (80/100)

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

Violation History

3 monitoring/reporting violations recorded. These are procedural violations (missed tests or late reports), not necessarily water safety issues.

Recent Violations

Date Contaminant Type Status
September 1, 2023 Consumer Confidence Report Rule Monitoring Resolved
July 1, 2023 Surface Water Treatment Rule Monitoring Resolved

Contaminants Detected

The following contaminants have been flagged in EPA records for this water system:

Contaminant Category Violations Health-Based
Surface Water Treatment Rule Treatment Failure 2 No
Consumer Confidence Report Rule Reporting 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
48067 0.004 mg/L No N/A
48068 0.004 mg/L No N/A
48073 0.004 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: 11 ZIP codes confirmed via EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3 plus 1 additional ZIP 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 City of Royal Oak (MI0005830) on EPA.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is City of Royal Oak water safe to drink?

City of Royal Oak has only monitoring/reporting violations, which are procedural in nature. The system meets federal health-based standards.

How many people does City of Royal Oak serve?

City of Royal Oak serves approximately 57,236 people across 12 ZIP codes in Michigan.

Where does City of Royal Oak 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
116

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:

879
Confirmed Lead
723
Galvanized — Replacement Required
766
Unknown Material
21,247
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: 57,236
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 →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is water from City of Royal Oak safe to drink?
City of Royal Oak earns a B safety grade with 3 violations in the past 5 years. Tap water meets EPA standards for most contaminants.
What contaminants are in City of Royal Oak's water?
Detected contaminants include Surface Water Treatment Rule, Consumer Confidence Report Rule. Each is compared against EPA maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) in the detailed breakdown above.
Should I use a water filter?
Given 2 contaminants above EPA limits, a certified water filter can provide an extra layer of protection. The best type depends on specific contaminants in your water.
How many people does City of Royal Oak serve?
City of Royal Oak serves approximately 57,236 people with drinking water across 12 ZIP codes.
What is City of Royal Oak's water source?
City of Royal Oak draws water from surface water sources. Source type affects which contaminants are most likely to be present.
Is there lead in City of Royal Oak's water?
The maximum detected lead level is 0.004 mg/L. This is within EPA action level guidelines.
What is the demographic profile of City of Royal Oak's service area?
The City of Royal Oak service area has a median household income of $106,004. Demographic data is sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau and EPA EJScreen.
Where does City of Royal Oak get its water?
City of Royal Oak'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.

What You Can Do

1

Test your water

Home test kits can detect lead, bacteria, and other contaminants at your tap. Find the right filter →

2

Check your specific ZIP code

Water quality can vary within a system. View nearest ZIP report →

3

Contact your utility

City of Royal Oak (EPA ID: MI0005830) — request the latest Consumer Confidence Report or ask about specific contaminants.

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