Rio Rico, AZ: 11 Violations - Home Safety 63/100
1 ZIP code · 3 water systems · Updated
ZipCheckup grade for Rio Rico: C.
A mixed picture - some signals here are worth your attention.
For residents of Rio Rico, AZ, a C is a prompt to look up the report for their own ZIP code rather than a verdict on their tap.
How Rio Rico Compares
Data: EPA SDWIS
What You Should Know About Rio Rico Water
- Your city's water systems recorded 11 violations since 2021.
- Homes built before 1986: 19% - older plumbing may contain lead solder.
- Estimated remediation: $600 per household.
- Health risk index (ZipCheckup composite of CDC data): 12.85.
Who Supplies Your Water in Rio Rico
When a city is linked to 3 water systems, as Rio Rico, AZ is in federal records, water in one neighborhood may come from a different system than in another. The 3 systems with the largest reported populations are shown below, and their compliance records are kept separately, so a violation logged for one does not describe the others.
- C
- C
- C
Overview
We track home safety data for 1 ZIP code in Rio Rico, Arizona, covering 3 community water systems serving approximately 21,844 people. The EPA snapshots used for this build directly map water systems to 1 of 1 ZIP codes.
1 of 1 ZIP code with a reported violation count in the available EPA record (100%) have recorded EPA violations. The available record reports no health-based violations for this measured scope.
Home Safety Score
Average Home Safety Score for Rio Rico: C (63/100)
Model 4.0.0 uses four measured components across three equally weighted domains. If a required domain is unavailable, no score is published:
| Factor | What It Measures |
|---|---|
| Water Quality | EPA violations and compliance history |
| PFAS MCL Screen | UCMR 5 testing against the covered federal MCLs |
| Radon Risk | EPA radon zone classification |
| Annual AQI | EPA AirData county-year median with at least 90 observed days |
Water Sources
Rio Rico water systems draw from: Groundwater.
Lead & Copper
- Average of reported 90th-percentile lead results: reported as 0 mg/L (a reported 0 is not proof of no lead; check the source record for its reporting limit) (EPA action level: 0.015 mg/L)
- 0 of 1 ZIP code with known status exceed the EPA lead action level
Radon Risk
1 of 1 ZIP records with known zones is in EPA Radon Zone 2.
The EPA recommends testing all homes regardless of radon zone. County radon zones cannot replace an in-home radon test.
Top Contaminants
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revised Total Coliform Rule | Microbiological | 6 | 1 |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 4 | 1 |
| Arsenic | Inorganic | 2 | 1 |
| 2,4-D | Organic | 2 | 1 |
Areas with Most Violations
| ZIP Code | Safety Score | Violations | Health-Based | System |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85648 | C | 11 | 0 | Liberty Water Rio Rico |
All ZIP Codes in Rio Rico
- 85648 [C] - 11 violations
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Lead/copper: EPA Lead and Copper Rule sampling data
- Radon: EPA Map of Radon Zones
Reporting periods vary by source. Missing data is shown as unavailable, not as zero.
Health Outcomes in Rio Rico
Source: CDC PLACES (County-level estimates). County health indicators are shown for context only and are not linked to this area's water records.
Compared to National Average
Vertical line = national average. ■ Above national · ■ Below national
Top Contaminants in Rio Rico Water
Based on EPA violation records. Check your ZIP code report for system-specific contaminant data.
Housing & Infrastructure in Rio Rico
Housing age data helps assess potential lead pipe and infrastructure risks. Newer housing stock generally means lower plumbing-related contamination risk.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS).
Housing Age Profile
Median build year in Rio Rico: 1992; a tap test shows what your own water delivers.
Most homes in Rio Rico were built after 1986; lead exposure at a tap still depends on its service line and plumbing. Older homes should still be tested.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS B25034.
Cost Context: What Remediation Means for Rio Rico Homeowners
Relative to home values, Rio Rico remediation estimates run low.
Estimated remediation costs in Rio Rico can be compared with local home values. The $400–$800 estimated range can be set against the median property value; actual costs vary by home. Home values are 30% below the Arizona average.
Lead Exposure Risk for Children in Rio Rico
Why children are most at risk: The CDC states that no safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Children under 6 absorb lead more readily than adults, and even low levels can cause developmental delays, learning difficulties, and behavioral problems.
For families with young children in Rio Rico, two area figures are available: pre-1986 construction at about 19%, and a mean of the ZIP codes' 90th-percentile lead results under 0.010 mg/L. Testing water from the tap a child drinks from gives a home-specific result.
Sources: EPA Lead and Copper Rule, U.S. Census Bureau ACS, CDC childhood lead poisoning prevention guidelines.
Historical NFIP Claim Context in Rio Rico
Historical NFIP data for Rio Rico contains 7 flood insurance claims. Among claims with payment data, the average reported building, contents, and ICC component sum is $1,182. Among ZIP codes with claim records, 100% have an A- or V-family dominant rated zone recorded in those historical claims. This is not a complete current FEMA property-map inventory.
How flooding affects water quality: Flood events can introduce sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial chemicals into water supplies. Even after floodwaters recede, contamination can persist in wells and aging infrastructure. The $600 remediation estimate shown here excludes flood insurance and is not derived from NFIP claim count.
Claim count does not establish current property risk. Check the exact address in FEMA's current map and obtain a property-specific insurance quote when relevant.
Source: historical FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) claim records. No current FEMA property-map designation is asserted.
What You Can Do in Rio Rico
- Test your water at home. City-level data shows averages - your tap may differ. Check the certification, price and turnaround time of any water test kit or lab service.
- Install a certified water filter. For Revised Total Coliform Rule, listed in the water-quality records for Rio Rico: if it is a rule or reporting requirement rather than a contaminant, ask your utility what the record involved; for bacteria, follow any boil-water notice from your utility; for a specific chemical contaminant, check whether a filter is certified to reduce it. Not every contaminant has a consumer filter certification.
- Check your home's plumbing. Homes built before 1986 may have lead solder in pipes. A licensed plumber can assess your risk.
Deep Dive Reports
Detailed analysis for Rio Rico, AZ